In an update on the situation in Mayotte, Prime Minister François Bayrou has clarified that the death toll from Cyclone Chido is significantly lower than initially feared, contesting earlier reports that suggested thousands may have perished.
Cyclone Chido: French PM Reports Dozens Confirmed Dead in Mayotte
Cyclone Chido: French PM Reports Dozens Confirmed Dead in Mayotte
French PM François Bayrou downplays initial fears of catastrophic death toll from Cyclone Chido.
The devastation caused by Cyclone Chido has left many communities in Mayotte in ruins, with the confirmed death toll currently standing at 35. In a recent interview with BFMTV, Bayrou indicated that the fears of a higher casualty count, reaching into the thousands, should be reassessed. "I think [the number of dead] will be in the dozens and not in the thousands," he stated.
Local prefect François-Xavier Bieuville, who had initially expressed concerns that casualties could "definitely be several hundred," is now optimistic that the figure of 35 will hold, citing improving conditions for investigation into the fatalities. He provided clarification on his earlier comments, asserting he was merely reacting to the uncertainty following the cyclone's aftermath, making no alarmist claims.
Determining the true extent of the casualties has been challenging due to accessibility issues in the cyclone-affected areas, and because of the local Islamic customs dictating that victims are buried within 24 hours of death. This, combined with ongoing debates over the population statistics—officially estimated at 320,000 with an unknown number of undocumented migrants—complicates the situation further.
Despite being one of France's poorest regions, Mayotte endured the brunt of Cyclone Chido, which struck with winds reaching up to 260 km/h (160 mph), impacting many who reside in shanty towns constructed from metal roofs. A national day of mourning was observed, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to visit last week, during which he faced backlash from locals seeking increased aid.
In the wake of this disaster, survivors encountered severe service outages including a lack of water, electricity, and communication for almost a week. Officials have reported that water services have been restored, although with challenges still present. Plans for establishing a field hospital were also announced.
Following its impact on Mayotte, Cyclone Chido continued its path to continental Africa, resulting in additional fatalities of at least 120 in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.
Local prefect François-Xavier Bieuville, who had initially expressed concerns that casualties could "definitely be several hundred," is now optimistic that the figure of 35 will hold, citing improving conditions for investigation into the fatalities. He provided clarification on his earlier comments, asserting he was merely reacting to the uncertainty following the cyclone's aftermath, making no alarmist claims.
Determining the true extent of the casualties has been challenging due to accessibility issues in the cyclone-affected areas, and because of the local Islamic customs dictating that victims are buried within 24 hours of death. This, combined with ongoing debates over the population statistics—officially estimated at 320,000 with an unknown number of undocumented migrants—complicates the situation further.
Despite being one of France's poorest regions, Mayotte endured the brunt of Cyclone Chido, which struck with winds reaching up to 260 km/h (160 mph), impacting many who reside in shanty towns constructed from metal roofs. A national day of mourning was observed, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to visit last week, during which he faced backlash from locals seeking increased aid.
In the wake of this disaster, survivors encountered severe service outages including a lack of water, electricity, and communication for almost a week. Officials have reported that water services have been restored, although with challenges still present. Plans for establishing a field hospital were also announced.
Following its impact on Mayotte, Cyclone Chido continued its path to continental Africa, resulting in additional fatalities of at least 120 in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.
