Cyclone Chido Devastates Mayotte: 22 Dead, Over 1,400 Injured

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] December 17 : The French foreign region of Mayotte was hit hard by Cyclone Chido, which killed at least 22 people and hurt more than 1,400 others. With winds of more than 220 km/h, the storm has caused a lot of damage, cutting off important services and destroying homes.

How bad is the Damage? 

The heavy rain and strong winds from the storm have done a lot of damage to buildings all over Mayotte. There is a lot of harm to homes and government buildings in Mamoudzou, which is the major city. 

This has wiped out whole slums. Dzaoudzi–Pamandzi International, the island's main airport, has also been badly damaged, making it even harder to save people. Also, because of the lack of energy, power has been cut off to more than 15,000 homes, leaving those people without light. 

Concerns for People

Since Cyclone Chido hit, people are much more worried about their safety. The government is afraid that people will go hungry and get sick because there isn't enough clean water and food. People who need help are having a harder time getting it because of damage to infrastructure. 

Many people have said they have been without water for days. A lot of people are trying to help, and the French government is making air and sea bridges to get things like 20 tons of food and water to those who need them. Still, these measures are much harder because of how bad the disaster is. 

What the Government Said

It was reported that French President Emmanuel Macron will soon go to Mayotte to help the people there and stay in charge of the disaster relief efforts. He has also called for a national day of grief to memorialize those killed in the storm. 

The French government is sending extra security guards to help take supplies to people in need, keep operations operating smoothly, and prevent theft. Despite these improvements, the government's disaster planning and response continue to get negative feedback. 

What Hurricane Will Do in the Long Run 

The damage that Chido did to Mayotte shows how weak the island is. A little over 60% of the people who live there are poor, and another third are there illegally.People are unsure how to heal and rebuild in the long run because the damage to houses and infrastructure has worsened pre-existing economic and social difficulties. As a result, individuals have discussed how the French government handles its overseas territories, as well as its environmental policies. 

Mayotte is beginning the difficult process of rebuilding, but the primary objective is to address the flaws that intensified the tragedy and provide a brief relief to those impacted.

By Manasa Permulla