Cyclone Chido: Hundreds of deaths in France's poorest region feared!

Cyclone Chido: Hundreds of deaths in France's poorest region feared!

The devastating effects of the Chido cyclons shake the French island of Mayotte - hundreds could be dead!

A storm of unimaginable extent has devastated the French overseas island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean! Cyclone Chido, the worst storm in 90 years, has transformed the region into chaos. The authorities fear that the number of deaths could go into the hundreds while the island is fighting with the devastating consequences.

What is Cyclone Chido? The storm emerged from a tropical depression, which formed in the southeastern Indian Ocean between December 7th and 8th. This type of weather phenomenon is characterized by an area with low pressure and circular wind flow, which is generated by thunderstorms. Chido quickly developed and met on Saturday morning with wind speeds of over 220 km/h (137 mph) on Mayotte.

The devastating landing

When Chido landed on Mayotte on Saturday, he was a real monster-comparable to a category 4 hurricane! The destruction was catastrophic: houses were razed to the ground, trees were uprooted and power lines torn down. The French authorities speak of at least 19 confirmed deaths, but the number of unreported cases could be far higher. "It will be difficult to grasp all the victims," said the Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.

The Situation is dramatic. More than 830 people were injured and 100,000 people had to be evacuated in emergency shelters. The island's infrastructure is badly damaged - streets, water treatment plants and power lines are affected. "The health system is seriously impaired," warned the French Minister of Health Genevieve DarrieusSecq.

The consequences for the population

The poorest communities were hit particularly hard, in which many people live in slums who are not built for such extreme weather conditions. "The people here live under extreme conditions," said Salama Ramia, Mayotte senator. Many of the dead come from these endangered areas, where the houses consist of sheet metal and could not withstand the storm.

The uncertainty about the actual number of victims is reinforced by the large number of undocumented migrants in Mayotte. It is estimated that over 100,000 migrants live on the island, many of them from neighboring comors and East Africa who are looking for better living conditions.

Currently, Zyklon Chido has weakened into a post-tropical cyclone and is now moving towards Zimbabwe. The scientists warn that such storms are getting stronger due to climate change. "The waters in which Cyclone Chido was created were 1 to 2 degrees Celsius warmer than usual," said climate scientist Roxy Mathew Koll.

The coming days will be crucial to assess the damage and support the survivors. The French government has already sent medical and military staff to the island to help with the rescue work. But the challenges are enormous, and hope for a quick improvement.