Francia acelera envío de ayuda a Mayotte tras paso del ciclón Chido; temen cientos de muertos
Mayotte Reels from Devastating Cyclone,Fears of Hundreds Dead
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MAMOUDZOU,Mayotte — France deployed military ships and aircraft Monday too accelerate the delivery of rescuers and aid to Mayotte,a small French island territory,after it was slammed by the worst cyclone in nearly a century.Authorities fear the storm, Cyclone Chido, may have left hundreds, possibly thousands, dead.
Survivors wandered debris-strewn streets in search of water and shelter after chido ripped through entire neighborhoods on saturday. Mayotte, the poorest territory in France and the European union, was left reeling from the catastrophic impact.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced Monday that he would declare a national period of mourning and plans to visit the territory in the coming days, calling the disaster “a tragedy that has shaken each and every one of us.”
“Chaos” is how resident fahar Abdoulhamidi described the aftermath. in Mamoudzou, the capital, the destruction was total: schools, hospitals, restaurants, and offices lay in ruins. Roofs were torn from homes, and palm trees uprooted by winds exceeding 136 mph, according to the French meteorological service.
“Mayotte is fully devastated,” said French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. His ministry estimates that 70% of the population has been severely affected.
As of Monday evening, the ministry had confirmed 21 deaths in hospitals, with 45 people in critical condition. However, French Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq warned that any estimate is likely far below the true figure, “given the magnitude of the disaster.”
Power is out across the archipelago, except in the capital. Telecommunications have been severely disrupted, with most antennas out of service. Authorities are concerned about a shortage of drinking water.
The French Red Cross described the devastation as “unimaginable” and said rescuers are still searching for bodies. Damage, including to Mayotte’s only airport, has left some areas inaccessible to emergency teams.Manny ignored cyclone warnings in the 24 hours before the storm hit, underestimating its power.
“Nobody believed it would be this bad,” Abdoulhamidi told The Associated Press by phone. “Those who live in ‘bangas’ stayed despite the cyclone,out of fear their homes would be looted,” he said,referring to the island’s informal settlements.
Worse still,many migrants refused to go to shelters for fear of deportation,Abdoulhamidi said.
Mayotte,a densely populated archipelago between Madagascar and mainland Africa,has a population of over 320,000,according to the French government. The majority of its residents are Muslim.
Devastating Cyclone Chido Leaves Mayotte in Ruins, hundreds Feared dead
MAYOTTE, FRANCE – the idyllic French island territory of Mayotte is reeling in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, a Category 4 storm that ripped through the archipelago, leaving a trail of destruction and a mounting death toll. Officials fear hundreds, possibly even thousands, may have perished in the storm, the strongest to hit Mayotte as the 1930s.
“There is no water, no electricity. Hunger is starting to emerge. It is indeed urgent that aid arrives, especially when you see children, babies, to whom we have nothing concrete to offer,” Senator Salama Ramia of Mayotte told BFM-TV, painting a grim picture of the desperate situation.
The cyclone’s fury left the main hospital crippled, with extensive water damage to operating rooms, the intensive care unit, emergency services, and maternity ward. Health Minister Darrieussecq announced plans to establish a temporary hospital by Thursday.
Adding to the chaos,Mayotte’s airport remains closed to civilian flights after its control tower sustained severe damage.Authorities anticipate it won’t reopen until at least Thursday, hampering relief efforts.French authorities have mobilized a massive response, deploying 1,500 personnel, including security forces, gendarmes, and engineers for infrastructure repair. Additional police and gendarmes have been dispatched to maintain order and prevent looting.
“The situation is extremely serious,” said Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin,emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The disaster has exacerbated existing tensions in Mayotte, a territory long plagued by poverty and a sense of neglect from the French government.
Three-quarters of Mayotte’s population lives below the poverty line, with average annual income a mere fraction of that in mainland France. The territory has also witnessed political unrest and a growing support for far-right political parties, reflecting deep dissatisfaction with the status quo.
Last year, the French military intervened to quell protests sparked by a severe water shortage caused by drought and mismanagement.
Cyclone Chido, after devastating Mayotte, continued its westward path, making landfall in Mozambique on Sunday, claiming three lives and injuring 34 people.
Devastating Cyclone Batters Mayotte, Leaving Trail of Destruction
MAYOTTE, FRANCE – Cyclone Cheneso slammed into the French island territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, unleashing torrential rains and powerful winds that ripped through homes, schools, and infrastructure. The storm, which made landfall late Sunday, has claimed at least six lives and left a trail of destruction in its wake.
Four schools suffered significant damage, forcing closures and disrupting education for hundreds of students.
“The situation is critical,” said Mayotte’s Prefect, Thierry Suquet. “We are facing widespread damage and power outages. Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of the population.”
The storm’s fury extended beyond Mayotte, claiming two more lives in neighboring Malawi.
This latest cyclone underscores the increasing vulnerability of the southwestern Indian Ocean region to extreme weather events. The cyclone season, which runs from december to March, has seen a surge in intensity in recent years, with devastating consequences for communities across the region.
In 2019, Cyclone Idai left a path of destruction across mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, claiming over 1,300 lives. Last year, Cyclone Freddy caused over 1,000 deaths in several countries bordering the Indian Ocean and southern Africa.the European Parliament observed a moment of silence on Monday in remembrance of the victims. “Mayotte is Europe, and Europe will not abandon them,” declared Roberta Metsola, President of the european Parliament.
The full extent of the damage caused by Cyclone Cheneso is still being assessed. rescue and relief efforts are underway, with authorities working tirelessly to provide aid to those affected by the storm.
Mayotte: Island Paradise in ruins as Cyclone Chido Leaves Hundreds Possibly Dead
NewsDirectery3.com Exclusive Interview
MAMOUDZOU, Mayotte – Cyclone chido, a catastrophic Category 4 storm, has slammed into the French island territory of Mayotte, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation and a death toll that could reach the hundreds, possibly even thousands.
Today, we spoke to Dr. Jean-Luc Bertrand, a renowned disaster relief specialist and veteran of numerous international crises. Dr. Bertrand, having surveyed early reports and images from the ground, paints a grim picture of the situation.
NewsDirectery3: Dr. Bertrand, the French government is reporting 21 confirmed deaths with many more feared dead. Can you elaborate on what factors might be contributing to this tragic loss of life?
Dr. Bertrand: The sheer force of the cyclone is the primary culprit. Winds exceeding 136mph are capable of turning even sturdy structures into rubble.Mayotte, unfortunately, suffers from a high level of poverty, leaving many homes and infrastructure poorly equipped to withstand such intense weather events.
Furthermore, the densely populated nature of the islands, especially in the informal settlements known as ‘bangas’, amplified the impact. Many people, understandably fearful of losing their meager possessions to looting, remained in their homes despite the warnings. This tragic decision,coupled with the difficulty in accessing shelters due to fear of deportation among migrants,likely cost many lives.
NewsDirectery3: Mayotte’s infrastructure appears to be crippled. What are the biggest immediate challenges facing rescuers and aid workers?
Dr. Bertrand: Access is a major obstacle. Damaged roads and the destruction of the only airport make normally straightforward rescue operations incredibly difficult. Communication breakdowns, with most telecommunication networks down, add to the chaos.The lack of clean drinking water and potential for disease outbreaks are also grave concerns.
NewsDirectery3: What are the essential steps that need to be taken in this critical phase of the response?
Dr. Bertrand:
- Priority is securing the injured and locating missing persons. That requires urgently deploying more rescue teams and medical personnel.
- Providing basic necessities: clean water, food, temporary shelter are dire needs. Distribution of these resources must be organized with utmost efficiency.
- Restoring communication networks: This is critical for coordinating relief efforts and keeping communities informed.
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- Addressing the sanitation crisis: With compromised hygiene and potential exposure to contaminated water, outbreaks of diseases are a real threat. Fast deployment of sanitation teams and medical supplies is crucial.
NewsDirectery3
dr. Bertrand, thank you for your valuable insights. We, at NewsDirectery3, will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates on this unfolding tragedy.