Cyclone Chido, a small but very intense tropical cyclone, caused tremendous damage as it moved over islands in the southwest Indian Ocean in the past several days. Chido first slammed Agalega, northern islands belonging to Mauritius, on 11-Dec. It was the strongest storm there in more than 40 years, bringing a deadly 8 m (26 ft) storm surge that reportedly destroyed most of the island’s homes and schools. The cyclone weakened somewhat, offering only a glancing blow to northern Madagascar. However, Chido unexpectedly and rapidly intensified before making another landfall near Bandraboua, Mayotte on 14-Dec.
Quelle tristesse! Ce n’est pas comme si nous n’avions alerté tant de fois et encore récemment en juin lors de la commission d’enquête de @AssembleeNat que je présidais. Nous avons besoin de secours sous le sceau de l’urgence et rétablir l’électricité à l’hôpital #Mayotte #Chido pic.twitter.com/A2an4itKSD
— Mansour KAMARDINE – Officiel (@Kamardine_M) December 14, 2024
🔴⚠️🌀🇲🇿This impressive view of #Landsat 9 on Dec.14, showing the 20km-large eye of Cat.4 #Chido over #Mayotte, explains the total devastation caused by the strongest #TropicalCyclone to hit the islands in the last 90 years,,fearing several hundreds deaths. #Climatemergency pic.twitter.com/my9lqCYXQK
— SatWorld (@or_bit_eye) December 16, 2024
Mayotte is a small but densely populated island territory belonging to France. According to a 2018 report by the French INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies), 84% of the island’s 321,000 residents live in poverty. Many thousands live in corrugated metal shacks with little access to running water. These crowded shanty towns have reportedly been decimated by Chido’s lethal winds and surge. The Dzaoudzi-Pamandzi International Airport reported winds up to 226 kph (140 mph), much more than enough to flatten the poorly constructed dwellings. As of late Monday evening, the death toll on Mayotte officially is only 21, but thousands are missing and feared dead.
Kawéni…48h00 une aide insuffisante sur le terrain. Des milliers de gens livrés à eux mêmes, une désorganisation totale. Pas d’eau, pas d’électricité, pas d’internet et la famine qui nous guette.
Partagez ce post pour que le monde soit témoin. #chido
📸 Ampire Prod. pic.twitter.com/O7VK35FZjS— Clap mayotte (@Clapmayotte) December 16, 2024
Chido went on to a third landfall in Mozambique, the strongest cyclone there in five years. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses have been severely damaged if not destroyed. Dozens are confirmed dead there and in neighboring Malawi with the toll likely to rise as clean-up efforts begin in earnest. Lead photo courtesy Graham Crumb / imagecity.com