Mayotte is facing a humanitarian disaster after Cyclone Chido, the strongest storm in nearly a century, struck the French island chain, with winds of up to 200km/h.
Senior local official François-Xavier Bieuville warned that the death toll could reach "a thousand, even several thousand" as the archipelago suffers devastating damage.
The cyclone, which hit overnight, has left widespread destruction in its wake, including damage to hospitals, homes, and government buildings. French authorities are struggling to account for all the victims, with the full extent of the disaster still unclear.
President Emmanuel Macron expressed his sorrow, saying, “My thoughts are with our compatriots in Mayotte, who have gone through the most horrific few hours, and who have, for some, lost everything, lost their lives.”
As the situation continues to unfold, French military personnel are racing to deliver emergency aid. An air bridge has been established between Mayotte and Reunion Island, another French territory off the coast of Madagascar.
* The Independent contributed to this article.
