French Prime Minister François Bayrou expressed his belief that the death toll resulting from Cyclone Chido’s impact on the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte on 14 December was much lower than initially feared. While some had speculated that thousands may have perished, Bayrou maintained that the actual number of casualties was likely in the dozens, rather than reaching such alarming figures.
In an interview with BFMTV, Bayrou voiced skepticism towards the “alarmist and sometimes terrifying numbers” that had been suggested, asserting his conviction that the reality would not be as devastating as feared. The confirmed death toll in Mayotte stood at 35, a far cry from the dire predictions made in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone.
Local prefect François-Xavier Bieuville had initially expressed concerns that the death toll could potentially reach several hundred or even thousands, given the catastrophic nature of the disaster. However, as investigations progressed on the ground, Bieuville revised his estimate, indicating that the figure of 35 fatalities seemed to be more accurate based on the available evidence.
Despite the challenges posed by the inaccessibility of certain areas of Mayotte and the swift burial practices in line with Islamic customs, officials strived to ascertain the extent of the tragedy following the cyclone that had struck the impoverished territory with unprecedented intensity.
Mayotte’s population, including a significant number of undocumented migrants, added to the complexity of assessing the impact of the disaster. While the official resident count stood at 320,000, authorities estimated that the actual number of individuals residing on the island could be much higher, ranging from 100,000 to 200,000.
Reflecting on the devastation wrought by Cyclone Chido, the prime minister emphasized the grim reality faced by the residents of Mayotte, many of whom lived in precarious conditions in shanty towns. The cyclone, described as the most severe storm to hit the territory in nearly a century, brought destructive winds reaching up to 260 km/h (160 mph), causing extensive damage to structures and displacing numerous families.
In response to the crisis, France declared a day of national mourning as a gesture of solidarity with the affected population. President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the territory, however, was met with frustration from locals who demanded more substantial aid to support recovery efforts in the hardest-hit areas.
The aftermath of the cyclone left survivors grappling with severe shortages of essential resources, enduring days without access to water, communication, or electricity. Efforts to restore basic services were gradually underway, with authorities managing to reinstate water supplies at key points across the territory.
Bieuville reassured the public that despite ongoing challenges, progress was being made in addressing critical needs, such as ensuring the availability of fuel for transportation and setting up a field hospital to provide medical assistance to those in need.
As Cyclone Chido moved on to continental Africa, leaving a trail of destruction in Mozambique and Malawi, the impact of the disaster reverberated across the region.
