In brief
In the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, which devastated Mayotte on December 14, French Prime Minister François Bayrou asserts that the death toll is likely in the dozens rather than the thousands indicated by initial reports.
In a recent statement to BFMTV, Bayrou clarified the situation, expressing concern over "alarmist" figures regarding casualties. Following the cyclone, which has been labeled the worst storm to hit the territory in 90 years, local officials had anticipated a much higher toll. The local prefect, François-Xavier Bieuville, initially projected that fatalities could range in the hundreds, but has revised this figure as investigations continue and more information becomes available.The confirmed death toll currently stands at 35, with significant challenges hindering accurate assessments, including accessibility issues and adherence to Islamic customs which require quick burials. There remains ambiguity regarding the actual population of Mayotte, which has official figures around 320,000, yet it is suspected that an additional 100,000 to 200,000 undocumented migrants may reside there.Bayrou emphasized that the true number of casualties is unlikely to escalate beyond dozens. He also pointed out that Cyclone Chido unleashed winds reaching up to 260 km/h (160 mph), destroying numerous shanty towns where residents lived in precarious conditions.Amid the crisis, a day of mourning was observed in France on Monday. President Emmanuel Macron visited the ravaged territory last week, facing frustration from residents who expressed dissatisfaction with the aid provided. Survivors have faced a week without access to water, communication, or electricity. Local authorities have since restored water supplies and confirmed that fuel shortages are no longer an issue, allowing transportation to resume. Plans for a field hospital to address the needs of the affected population were also set to be operational shortly.Subsequent to hitting Mayotte, Cyclone Chido continued to cause destruction in Africa, claiming the lives of 120 people in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.
