Reckoning with the Aftermath of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte: A Death Toll Still Uncertain

In the wake of Cyclone Chido's devastation, Mayotte’s official death toll stands at 35, yet speculations suggest the numbers could soar into the thousands. Amidst recovery, public mourning appears minimal, while President Macron faces growing uncertainty over the crisis.

Nearly a week following the catastrophic impact of Cyclone Chido, the streets of Mayotte, a small French island off the east coast of Africa, are beginning to see some semblance of normalcy returning. President Emmanuel Macron has been visiting the territory, engaging in heated discussions with locals, and services such as cellphone reception are gradually recovering. However, a troubling question persists: just how many lives were lost in this deadly cyclone?

The day after Chido struck, France’s top official in Mayotte alarmed many with grim statements about potential casualties, suggesting that the death toll could reach “closer to a thousand, maybe several thousand.” Following this, rumors of an even greater toll emerged from local lawmakers and media, with one report citing speculation of 20,000 victims and another estimating that up to 60,000 people—representing nearly 19 percent of the island’s population—may have perished. Although the latter report was subsequently removed, it prompted Macron to call attention to the situation, acknowledging the likelihood of higher casualties despite the absence of solid evidence.

As of the latest reports, the official death toll still sits at 35—significantly lower than the 75 casualties reported in Mozambique following the same cyclone. Yet, as the search for missing persons continues amid the rubble of neighborhoods like Passamaïnty in Mamoudzou, signs of widespread devastation are evident though the cries for public mourning seem notably subdued. Moving forward, the people of Mayotte face both physical reconstruction and an emotional reckoning with the disaster's full impact.