At least 14 people were killed in the French archipelago of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, which was struck by the very violent Cyclone Chido, according to a provisional toll from local security sources.
Abdel Wahid Sumaila, mayor of Mamoudzou, the largest city in the archipelago, told Agence France-Presse that 9 people were very seriously injured and 246 others were moderately injured.
He added that the hurricane was the most violent to hit Mayotte in more than 90 years and was accompanied by strong winds exceeding 220 kilometers per hour, causing damage to the hospital and schools and completely destroying homes.
A third of Mayotte’s estimated 320,000 residents live in fragile housing, and are still isolated in their homes and deprived of water and electricity.
French Interior Minister Bruno Rotayo expected that it would likely take “a few days” before the death toll would be “determined”, which would most likely be “heavy”, according to estimates.
It is expected that 160 members of civil security, ambulance and fire service will be sent from France to Mayotte to support the estimated 110 members stationed there since Friday.
Land and air flights were operated starting Sunday to transport medical teams and hospital supplies.
Cyclone Chido headed to northern Mozambique on Sunday morning, and only minor damage was recorded in the neighboring Comoros islands, without any casualties.