Cyclone Chido Devastates Mayotte, Leaving Landscape Barren

Upon arrival over Petite-Terre, Mayotte’s smaller island, the extent of damage caused by Cyclone Chido is instantly visible. The landscape of this French Indian Ocean territory appears utterly devastated following the storm’s passage through the islands on Saturday. Hills that were once lush with coconut trees now appear desolate and blackened. Trees have been stripped of their leaves, and their trunks lie horizontally. The airport’s signal tower was twisted by winds reaching 220km. Even the closest airport hotel, a robust building and one of the few locations on the island with operational Wi-Fi and electricity, sustained significant roof damage and broken windows. French officials have reported a minimum of 31 fatalities, with thousands more still unaccounted for, raising concerns that the death toll may increase significantly. A state of exceptional natural disaster has been declared for the territory, recognized as one of France’s most impoverished regions, where numerous inhabitants reside in informal housing. French President Emmanuel Macron encountered comparable scenes of destruction on Grande-Terre, Mayotte’s other primary island, upon his arrival on Thursday morning, bringing four tonnes of food and health assistance. However, as he assessed the damage, some observers contend that the extent of the devastation stems directly from his insufficient investment in the island. Amidst his government’s current instability and an intense debate regarding migration in France, Mayotte is now at the heart of both a political and a physical crisis. The presence of thousands of illegal migrants on the island has long posed a challenge for the French government, and some in France are now asserting that excessive aid to the territory could attract additional migrants. Meanwhile, inhabitants of France’s most deprived department continue to await food, water, and shelter. Upon landing, a heavy rainstorm commenced, inundating structures whose roofs had been torn off. This illustrates one of the many hardships Mayotte’s residents have endured for nearly a week. The state of emergency declared for Mayotte is intended for France’s overseas territories to facilitate the removal of administrative obstacles, enabling a swifter and more efficient response to the crisis. It has been enacted for one month but is subject to extensions of two-month periods if necessary. François-Noël Buffet, the minister overseeing overseas territories, stated, “Faced with this exceptional situation, exceptional resources must be deployed to quickly restore vital services and implement a sustainable reconstruction plan for Mayotte.” Emergency services are distributing food and water, clearing roadways, and simultaneously working to locate missing persons. Health professionals are worried about the potential spread of infectious diseases, given residents’ reports of insufficient clean drinking water and shops rationing provisions. Authorities have indicated that their primary objective is to restore damaged water treatment facilities to operation. Fifty percent of the territory still lacks electricity. A recently implemented curfew mandates residents to remain indoors for six hours during the night to deter potential looting. Cyclone Chido, the most severe storm to impact the archipelago in 90 years, delivered wind speeds exceeding 225km/h (140mph) on Saturday, leveling areas where many reside in makeshift dwellings with sheet metal roofs and leaving behind expanses of soil and wreckage. Following its passage through Mayotte, the storm proceeded to the African mainland, resulting in at least 45 deaths in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its external linking policy is available.