Tragedy strikes Mayotte as cyclone death toll could reach thousands

In mid-December 2024, Cyclone Chido struck the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, causing substantial damage and a humanitarian crisis. Initially believed to have killed dozens, reports suggest that the death toll could be in the hundreds or even thousands due to the cyclone’s extreme winds and rainfall, overwhelming the island’s infrastructure. The cyclone was noted as the strongest storm to affect Mayotte in nearly a century, impacting primarily those in vulnerable housing, such as shantytowns. The local hospitals became inundated with casualties, leading to a dire health situation, exacerbated by ongoing shortages of clean water and food.