The French island territory was hit by storm Chido

The French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte has been hit by the worst storm to hit the archipelago in nearly a century.

At least 11 people were feared dead when Typhoon Chido made landfall on Saturday, packing wind gusts of more than 225 km/h (140 mph), with fears the death toll could rise.

French President Emmanuel Macron said France would be “present” for the people of Mayotte, while French officials said 250 firefighters and security personnel would be sent to the islands, some of which had already arrived.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said “all temporary homes have been completely destroyed” and he feared a “heavy” death toll.

One local news sources reported According to hospital reports, 11 people were killed and more than 200 injured.

AFP reported a higher death toll – at least 14 people – citing a security source.

Located in northwest Madagascar, Mayotte is an archipelago consisting of a main island, Grand-Terre, and several smaller islands.

Most of the island’s 300,000 residents live in tents with corrugated iron roofs, and tens of thousands have lost their homes.

Electricity, water and internet connection were all cut off. The Paris government sent a military transport plane to carry supplies and emergency personnel.

Acting French Transport Minister Francois Durovray wrote on X.

He added that air traffic “will initially be restored by military aid aircraft. Ships are on their way to ensure supplies.”

Even before the storm hit hard Saturday morning, there were reports of uprooted trees, torn roofs and downed power lines.

The head of the Mayotte firefighters’ union, Abdoul Karim Ahmed Allaoui, told the BFM news channel on Saturday morning that “even emergency responders are in lockdown”.

“There was no cell phone service and we couldn’t reach the people on the island,” he continued. Even buildings built to earthquake standards cannot survive.

“The emergency services command center has been evacuated and is operating at partial capacity.”

Interior Minister Retailleau wrote in a statement on X: “I fully support the people of Mayotte. State and local emergency services have been fully mobilized. 110 civil security officers and soldiers Firefighters have been dispatched and are on site. A second dispatch will be made tomorrow with 140 additional personnel.”

French Prime Minister François Bayrou, who took over on Friday, said the storm was of “exceptional severity” and he was being updated on the situation “hour by hour”. He held an emergency meeting in Paris with ministers.

Mayotte was initially placed on purple alert – the highest level – and a “strict lockdown for the entire population, including emergency services” was imposed. It has since been downgraded to red to allow emergency services to leave their bases.

Retailleau said the island has not experienced such extreme weather since 1934.

On Sunday, Cyclone Chido made landfall in northern Mozambique. Wind gusts were estimated to reach speeds of more than 230km/h (140mph) before landfall.

While winds are forecast to subside, heavy rain and flooding are predicted in areas of northern Mozambique, southern Malawi and then Zimbabwe.