With gusts exceeding 200 kph (124 mph), Cyclone Chido—the most powerful storm in over 90 years—battered Mayotte, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Homes, government buildings, and even a hospital were severely damaged. Aerial footage from the French gendarmerie revealed widespread devastation, including hundreds of destroyed temporary shelters, particularly in areas heavily populated by migrants from neighboring Comoros. Local media reported terrifying images of a mother lugging a newborn’s cot through a flooded hospital hallway, broken coconut palms penetrating rooftops, and overturned police boats. According to Préfet Francois-Xavier Bieuville, the death toll is yet unknown and might be anything between several hundred and thousands.

French President Emmanuel Macron extended condolences, describing the events as the “most terrible times” for Mayotte, where many have lost everything. The French government also acknowledged challenges in determining an accurate toll due to Mayotte’s Muslim funeral customs, which require burials to be completed within 24 hours.

Mayotte’s Socioeconomic Vulnerabilities Amplified by the Storm

Mayotte has long been plagued by gang violence, social upheaval, and resource shortages, and nearly three-quarters of its inhabitants live beneath the French poverty line. A serious water problem earlier this year exacerbated tensions. Mayotte is home to over 100,000 illegal migrants who fled Comoros in search of better living conditions and access to French aid.

Cyclone Chido worsened these already dire conditions, leaving many residents without access to food, water, or sanitation facilities. Although Mayotte is a French overseas territory, its rehabilitation efforts are hindered by its significantly lower levels of development compared to mainland France. To aid the area affected by the tragedy, the government has announced the construction of an air bridge from Reunion Island.

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Regional and Historical Context: Cyclone’s Wider Impact and Mayotte’s Colonial Legacy

Beyond Mayotte, the Cyclone Chido’s devastation spread to northern Mozambique on Sunday, where it destroyed telecommunications and electrical facilities. The hurricane damaged 21 homes, left 24 people homeless, and wounded two in Comoros. It’s yet unknown how much of an impact Mozambique and other impacted areas will experience.

France, which seized the archipelago in 1904, is linked to Mayotte because of its colonial past. While the rest of the Comoros declared independence in 1975, Mayotte opted to stay French after a 1974 vote. Tensions between the local community and illegal migrants are among the particular difficulties facing the region that have been exacerbated by this historical interaction.

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