Cyclone ‘Chido’ wreaked havoc in France, causing panic due to death of about 1000 people

Cape Town: Cyclone Chido has wreaked havoc in France’s Mayotte region. The death toll here could be around 1,000. A top government official gave this information on Sunday. Mayotte Prefect Francois-Xavier Beauville told TV channel Mayotte l’Aire, “I think hundreds of people have died, perhaps the number reaches close to a thousand.” He said that it is ‘extremely difficult’ to give the exact number right now after the widespread devastation caused by the severe tropical cyclone that hit the Indian Ocean islands on Saturday. 

Mayotte is the poorest region in the European Union

Authorities earlier on Sunday confirmed at least 11 deaths in Mayotte but said the toll was expected to rise. Mayotte, located in the southeastern Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa, is France’s poorest island territory and one of the poorest in the European Union.

Winds blew at a speed of more than 220 kilometers per hour

According to the French weather service, Chido caused winds of more than 220 kilometers per hour, which damaged many houses in Mayotte. Mayotte, spread over two main islands about 800 kilometers off the east coast of Africa, has a population of more than 3 lakhs. In some places, the entire area was destroyed. Local residents said that many trees were uprooted and boats overturned or sank. At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said that he is closely monitoring the situation.