After the destructive Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte, French Prime Minister François Bayrou reassured the public that the death toll is significantly lower than initially feared, confirming 35 casualties amid ongoing recovery efforts and national mourning.
Death Toll from Cyclone Chido in Mayotte Clarified by French Prime Minister
Death Toll from Cyclone Chido in Mayotte Clarified by French Prime Minister
French officials provide updated casualty figures following Cyclone Chido’s devastating impact on Mayotte, with confirmed deaths standing at 35, contrary to earlier fears of thousands.
Many parts of Mayotte's shanty towns have been left devastated by Cyclone Chido, which struck the French territory on December 14. French Prime Minister François Bayrou has stated that, contrary to alarming early estimates of thousands of fatalities, he believes the death toll will be limited to dozens. In an interview with BFMTV, Bayrou emphasized that the higher figures might not reflect reality and predicted that confirmed deaths would not exceed 35.
Initially, local prefect François-Xavier Bieuville suggested that the casualty count could be "several hundred" or even reach into the thousands. However, he later affirmed that ongoing investigations indicated the death toll would be corroborated at 35. Bieuville defended his earlier comments, explaining the challenges in assessing the number of victims due to accessibility issues in damaged areas and the swift burial of victims in line with Islamic practices.
Complicating the situation is the uncertainty surrounding Mayotte’s population, which officially stands at 320,000, but includes an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 undocumented migrants.
On Monday night, Prime Minister Bayrou reassured the public that the casualty figures would likely remain in the dozens. Cyclone Chido, the most powerful storm to hit the region in 90 years, brought devastating winds reaching 260 km/h (160 mph), particularly impacting the shanty towns constructed from makeshift materials.
In response to the disaster, France observed a day of national mourning, with President Emmanuel Macron visiting the affected territory, where he faced criticism from locals for perceived inadequacies in aid. In the aftermath of the cyclone, survivors endured a week without access to clean water, electricity, or reliable communication, though government officials announced the restoration of water supply to key areas as of Tuesday.
As recovery efforts progress, Bieuville noted that logistics have improved, and a field hospital was set to become operational. After wreaking havoc in Mayotte, Cyclone Chido moved on to the African continent, leading to loss of life in Mozambique and Malawi as well.
