French PM Estimates Cyclone Chido Death Toll in Mayotte at Dozens, Not Thousands

French Prime Minister François Bayrou stated his belief that the death toll from Cyclone Chido, which struck the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte on 14 December, would be in the dozens, contrary to fears of thousands of fatalities. Speaking to BFMTV, Bayrou expressed his view that the “alarmist and sometimes terrifying numbers put forward won’t be borne out in reality”. While the current confirmed death toll in Mayotte stands at 35, local prefect François-Xavier Bieuville had initially expressed concerns in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone that the number could “definitely be several hundred” and potentially reach thousands. On Tuesday, the prefect informed France Info radio that ongoing field investigations were advancing effectively, which “allow us to think that we will corroborate this figure of 35”. In defense of his earlier statements, Bieuville maintained, “I have never been alarmist, I was simply unable to give the number of victims”. Authorities reported that assessing the full extent of fatalities following the disaster 10 days ago had been challenging, primarily because numerous areas of Mayotte were unreachable and victims were interred within 24 hours, adhering to Islamic customs. Furthermore, the actual population of Mayotte, a French Indian Ocean territory, remains uncertain. Although officially home to 320,000 residents, authorities estimate that an additional 100,000 to 200,000 undocumented migrants might also reside on the island. “I think [the number of dead] will be in the dozens and not in the thousands,” the prime minister conveyed to BFMTV on Monday night. The archipelago, recognized as one of France’s most impoverished regions, houses many residents in shanty towns. Cyclone Chido, the most severe storm to impact the territory in 90 years, brought winds reaching up to 260 km/h (160mph) and devastated areas where people resided in shacks with metal roofs. France observed a day of national mourning following the cyclone on Monday. President Emmanuel Macron visited the territory last week, where he faced heckling from angry local residents who demanded increased aid for the devastated regions. Certain survivors endured a week without access to water, communication, or electricity. On Tuesday, authorities reinstated water supply to the primary areas of the territory, according to Bieuville. He stated, “Even if this water is still sometimes a little difficult to deliver, our fellow citizens have water.” Bieuville also confirmed that the fuel shortage had ended, allowing vehicles to be refueled. The prime minister had previously announced that a field hospital would become operational by Tuesday morning. After striking Mayotte, Cyclone Chido proceeded to continental Africa, resulting in the deaths of 120 people in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.