Tropical Cyclone Chido, which landed in Mayotte on December 14, 2024, has caused at least 22 deaths and 1,500 injuries, with more casualties expected. It is the strongest cyclone to hit the region in over 90 years, damaging vital infrastructure and exacerbating pre-existing vulnerabilities among residents. The storm’s effects are still unfolding as relief efforts continue.
Tropical Cyclone Chido formed on December 5, 2024, in the southeastern Indian Ocean and intensified as it progressed, reaching maximum wind speeds of 250 km/h by December 12, categorizing it as a Category 4 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The cyclone made landfall in Mayotte on December 14 with destructive winds of 225 km/h, causing widespread devastation. As of December 18, the storm had resulted in at least 22 fatalities and 1,500 injuries, with many individuals still unaccounted for as rescue operations unfold. Moreover, Chido is noted as the most powerful storm to hit Mayotte in over nine decades, severely damaging crucial infrastructures such as hospitals, airports, and roads.
The cyclone’s impact is particularly severe given that a significant percentage of Mayotte’s housing—approximately 40%—was in a state of precariousness prior to the storm’s arrival. With around 100,000 residents living in vulnerable dwellings, the cyclone exacerbated pre-existing risks. The demographic context reveals that Mayotte, with an official population of 320,000, may harbor an additional 200,000 individuals who lack formal resident status, primarily from the nearby Comoros Islands, further complicating the disaster response.
Tropical Cyclone Chido has inflicted unprecedented damage on Mayotte, marking it as a critical natural disaster in the region’s history. The loss of life, injuries, and extensive infrastructural ruin underscore the urgency for humanitarian assistance and recovery efforts. Moreover, the precarious living conditions of many residents necessitate a concentrated focus on improving housing resilience to future storms.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
