Mayotte, a French archipelago in the Indian Ocean, has been left in ruins after Cyclone Chido, a category 4 storm, tore through the region with devastating force on December 15, 2024. Residents and officials have described the aftermath as “apocalyptic,” with entire neighborhoods flattened and critical infrastructure destroyed. The storm, said to be the most powerful to hit Mayotte in over 90 years, has plunged the territory into a deep crisis, with fears that the true scale of loss could involve hundreds, or even thousands, of lives.
"As If an Atomic Bomb Fell": Destruction in Mayotte
The cyclone struck Mayotte with wind speeds exceeding 220 kilometers per hour (136 miles per hour), ripping through the region after intensifying rapidly over the Indian Ocean. Bruno Garcia, the owner of Hotel Caribou in Mamoudzou, the capital of Mayotte, painted a grim picture of the devastation: “The situation is catastrophic, apocalyptic. We lost everything. The entire hotel is completely destroyed. It’s as if an atomic bomb fell on Mayotte.”
Another resident, Mohamed Ishmael, shared similar sentiments: “You feel like you are in the aftermath of a nuclear war. I saw an entire neighborhood disappear.” These accounts reflect the unprecedented scale of destruction caused by Cyclone Chido.
A Vulnerable Archipelago Ravaged
Mayotte, located off the east coast of Africa and west of Madagascar, comprises two main islands with a total area about twice the size of Washington, D.C. With a population of just over 300,000, it is the poorest region in the European Union, grappling with chronic unemployment, violence, and a growing migration crisis.
The cyclone caused widespread destruction to homes, hospitals, schools, and infrastructure. Entire neighborhoods were leveled, especially informal settlements and shantytowns that housed many undocumented migrants. François-Xavier Bieuville, the prefect of Mayotte, stated that the storm obliterated these fragile dwellings: “This figure [the official death toll] is not plausible when you see the images of the slums.” Aerial footage from France’s military confirmed that villages were reduced to rubble.
The Human Cost: A Mounting Tragedy
The French Interior Ministry has confirmed at least 11 deaths, but local officials warn the toll could climb dramatically. “I think there are several hundred dead, maybe close to a thousand. Even thousands… given the violence of this event,” Bieuville said. Rescue efforts have been severely hampered by damaged roads, communications networks, and the inaccessibility of many areas. According to Estelle Youssouffa, a member of parliament for Mayotte, two-thirds of the island is unreachable.
Informal settlements, home to nearly 100,000 undocumented migrants, were among the hardest-hit areas. Many residents chose not to evacuate due to fear of being detained or deported by the police, who have been conducting crackdowns on undocumented migrants in recent years. “Everything has been razed,” Youssouffa noted grimly.
Desperate families have turned to social media to search for missing loved ones, but the island remains largely offline. According to NetBlocks, Mayotte experienced a total internet blackout for over 36 hours, leaving survivors cut off from vital communication.
A Delayed Emergency Response
As residents endure the fallout, reports indicate that emergency assistance has been slow to reach the island. Many survivors have been left without electricity, water, or shelter. “We’ve been in the dark for three days and haven’t seen any rescuers,” said Fahar, a resident of Mamoudzou. In response, France has sent hundreds of rescuers, firefighters, and police to assist, along with emergency supplies delivered by military planes from France and the nearby territory of Réunion.
Cyclone Chido in Context: Climate Change and Vulnerability
Cyclone Chido is part of a growing pattern of increasingly intense tropical cyclones fueled by climate change. Scientists warn that rising ocean temperatures and increased atmospheric moisture, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, are making storms like Chido more destructive. The southwest Indian Ocean’s cyclone season typically spans from mid-November to April, with storms often peaking in intensity during these months.
This year’s devastation follows a history of powerful cyclones in the region. In 2019, Cyclones Idai and Kenneth caused widespread destruction in Mozambique, leaving hundreds dead and millions in need of aid. Chido’s ferocity underscores the heightened risks faced by vulnerable regions like Mayotte.
The Path Ahead: Rebuilding and Reflection
The aftermath of Cyclone Chido has highlighted the fragility of Mayotte’s infrastructure and the plight of its population, particularly undocumented migrants living in precarious conditions. Efforts to rebuild will require significant international assistance, and the disaster raises urgent questions about how to better prepare vulnerable regions for the impacts of climate change.
As aid begins to arrive, the people of Mayotte face a long road to recovery. The cyclone’s impact has not only destroyed homes and livelihoods but also revealed the deep inequalities and vulnerabilities that have long plagued the island. The lessons learned from this catastrophe will be critical in addressing both the immediate crisis and the long-term challenges posed by a changing climate.
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