EU pledges support as cyclone Chido devastates Mayotte
Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU would assist France after Cyclone Chido, which devastated Mayotte, a French overseas territory. The death toll there could reach several thousand people.
"Our hearts are with France after the devastating Cyclone Chido hit Mayotte. Europe stands in solidarity with the residents of Mayotte during this terrible trial. We are ready to assist them in the coming days," wrote von der Leyen on platform X.
The Prefect of Mayotte, François-Xavier Bieuville, emphasized that Cyclone Chido is the strongest to hit the region in nearly a century. In his view, the death toll will "definitely reach several hundred, possibly approaching a thousand, or even several thousand". The French Ministry of the Interior stated that at this stage, it cannot accurately determine the number of victims, though emergency services have confirmed at least 14 deaths.
Did not report to shelters for fear of deportation
It is still unclear how many victims remain trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings or in shantytown shacks, completely devastated by wind gusts exceeding 125 mph.
According to data from the French Ministry of the Interior, over 100,000 illegal immigrants live in Mayotte. Many of them did not report to shelters for fear of deportation.
The mayor of Mamoudzou, Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, reported that the cyclone destroyed many structures, including the main hospital and a school. "Homes are destroyed," he said. The cyclone broke trees, tore off roofs, and knocked down power poles, rendering most roads impassable.
Mayotte is a French department and overseas region in the Mozambique Channel on the Indian Ocean.
