Cyclone Chido demands dead in France, moving to the east coast of Africa
Cyclone Chido demands dead in France, moving to the east coast of Africa
Moroni, Komoren - Cyclone Chido has caused considerable damage to the French overseas area Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, and several lives were lost, as officials reported on Saturday when the storm moved towards the east coast of Africa.
Effects of the cyclone on Mayotte
The French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced that a "very preliminary" balance sheet shows that there are at least "some" dead. A precise number of the dead and injuries could not yet be mentioned, since the rescue workers could not yet fully assess the situation on site. "We fear that the number of victims will be high, but at the moment I can't give any numbers," Retailleau told reporters after an emergency meeting in the Interior Ministry in Paris. "The island seems to be devastated."
wind speeds and destruction
According to the French weather service, Cyclone Chido reached wind speeds of over 220 km/h. These extreme winds meant that metal roofs were torn down by houses in Mayotte. Mayotte has a population of just more than 300,000 people who are distributed over two main islands that are about 800 kilometers off the coast of Mozambique. The newly appointed French Prime Minister François Bayrou said that public institutions such as the prefecture, the hospital and the airport were "badly damaged or destroyed". Many people who lived in precarious huts in slum areas are exposed to "very serious risks".
rescue efforts and safety precautions
French President Emmanuel Macron said that he was closely monitoring the situation. "Our island has been hit by the most violent and most destructive cyclone since 1934. Many of us have lost everything," wrote the prefect of Mayotte, François-Xavier Bieuville, in a Facebook post on Saturday. The highest alarm level was canceled so that rescue workers can help after the worst of the cyclone. The French Ministry of the Interior announced that 1,600 police officers and gendarmes were mobilized to "help the population and to prevent possible looting."
Location on the comors and possible effects on Africa
also the nation Komoren, a group of islands north of Mayotte, was hit by Chido. The highest alarm level was proclaimed in some regions. The authorities expressed concern about a group of 11 fishermen who had driven fishing on Monday and have not been heard since then. The Komoren's authorities stated that all ships remain in the ports and that the main airport and government offices had to be closed. Schools had already been closed on Friday to make it easier for the residents to prepare for the cyclone.
preparations in Mozambique and neighboring countries
chido will probably continue his eastern course and meet the African mainland in Mozambique on Saturday evening or Sunday morning. The disaster authority of Mosambiks warned that up to 2.5 million people in the northern provinces could be affected by Cabo Delgado and Nampula. Inland, too, the inland countries Malawi and Zimbabwe prepared themselves. The Malawian Ministry of Disaster Management expects floods in some areas and urgently advised to move to higher areas. In Zimbabwe the authorities advised to prepare for evacuations.
cyclone season and future risks
The months of December to March are cyclone season in the southeastern Indian Ocean, and in recent years South Africa has been haunted by a number of strong cyclones. In 2019, cyclone Idai called for over 1,300 lives in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, while Zyklon Freddy demanded more than 1,000 fatalities in different countries last year. The cyclones not only bring the risk of floods and landslides, but can also leave standing waters, which can later lead to fatal cholera outbursts, as was the case in Idai, as well as dengue fever and malaria.
Studies show that the cyclones become more intense due to climate change. This presents poorer countries in South Africa, which only make a minimal contribution to climate change, before major humanitarian crises.