Cyclone hits French island of Mayotte
As well as causing heavy loss of life, Cyclone Chido has caused serious damage to the island’s infrastructure
Mayotte, located north of Madagascar off the eastern coast of Africa, has suffered severe damage caused by Cyclone Chido, which brought winds of over 225km/h to the French overseas department and region.
The storm hit the island, which has a population of 320,000, on Saturday 14 December. Rescue efforts are currently ongoing in response to the disaster.
According to island’s Prefect, Francois-Xavier Bieuville, the death toll of Chido could reach “close to a thousand, or even several thousand”.
As well as its impact on human life, Cyclone Chido has caused damage to Mayotte’s airport, as well as its electrical, water, and communications links, further impeding aid to the island territory. Hospitals and schools have also been damaged.
In response to the crisis, the French government has dispatched 160 soldiers and firefighters to support Mayotte’s own emergency responders. Bruno Retailleau, Interior Minister of France, will travel to the island in response to the crisis.
Extreme weather events were one of World Travel Protection’s top threats to travellers for 2025.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor for Voyageur Group, joining in 2021. He writes for both ITIJ and AirMed&Rescue, covering a range of topics including international travel and health insurance, medical assistance provision and air medical transportation. He also serves as Title Editor of the Assistance & Repatriation Reviews. Oliver holds an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University, as well as a BA in English with Creative Writing from Falmouth University.