Cyclone Chido: Mayotte reels under devastating winds

On Saturday, December 14, a tropical cyclone of rare intensity struck the archipelago of Mayotte. Placed under a purple alert, the island faced fierce winds reaching 200 to 230 km/h, forcing residents into strict confinement.

Scenes of devastation are emerging: roofs torn off, power poles toppled, and trees uprooted. Cut off from the outside world, Mahorans are grappling with a critical situation. “Thousands of households are without electricity, and there’s no network. Even the emergency services can’t respond. We fear a real catastrophe,” warned Abdoul Karim Ahmed Allaoui, president of the National Union of Professional Firefighters in Mayotte, speaking to BFMTV.

Unprecedented intensity

The eye of the cyclone swept across the northern part of the archipelago early in the morning before heading towards the Mozambican coast, leaving behind a trail of violent winds and torrential rain. According to Météo-France, these winds surpass those of Cyclone Kamisy in 1984, which caused widespread destruction and left thousands homeless.

Pierre, a resident of Mamoudzou, shared his ordeal from the bathtub where he had taken refuge: “The situation is atrocious.” In Ouangani, Mayor Youssouf Ambdi expressed grave concern: “It’s chaos everywhere. The material damage is inevitable. Let’s pray there are no casualties.”

Even concrete houses, considered more secure, were not spared. Ibrahim Mcolo, a resident of Chiconi who sought refuge in a concrete house, described apocalyptic scenes: “The neighbors’ roofs are flying off, cables are down. Even here, water is seeping in, and the house is trembling.”

Total lockdown and anxiety

The purple alert, triggered at 5 a.m., mandated strict confinement for all residents, including emergency services. Movement on Grande-Terre and Petite-Terre was prohibited, and Dzaoudzi Airport remained closed.

To protect the most vulnerable, 71 shelters were opened, prioritizing the nearly 100,000 people living in precarious housing. “The priority is to ensure everyone’s safety,” emphasized Madi Ousseni Mohamadi, mayor of Chiconi.

Fatima, a mother of three from Majicavo-Koropa, shared her fears: “We are very scared. I still remember the waves destroying everything during a cyclone in the Comoros when I was a child.”

Initial aid deployed

In anticipation of urgent needs, 110 civil security professionals were deployed from Réunion Island, which was spared by the cyclone. Météo-France predicts an improvement in weather conditions by the end of the day, but for now, Mayotte remains shrouded in uncertainty and fear.