Tropical Cyclone Chido formed on 5 December 2024 and intensified, making landfall in Mayotte on 14 December as a Category 4 cyclone with destructive winds. The storm resulted in at least 22 deaths and 1,500 injuries, severely damaging infrastructure. Around 100,000 residents lived in precarious housing conditions, exacerbating the cyclone’s impact on the population.
On 5 December 2024, Tropical Depression Chido emerged in the southeast Indian Ocean, subsequently intensifying into a tropical storm by 9 December with wind speeds reaching 70 km/h. It peaked on 12 December as a Category 4 cyclone with sustained winds of 250 km/h. Chido made landfall in Mayotte on 14 December, bringing winds of 225 km/h. As of 18 December, the cyclone caused significant destruction, resulting in at least 22 fatalities and approximately 1,500 injuries, with ongoing search efforts likely to increase casualties.
This cyclone is unprecedented in Mayotte’s recent history, marking the most powerful storm to impact the island in over 90 years. Essential infrastructure has sustained extensive damage, including hospitals, the airport, and major roads. Additionally, services such as electricity, water, and communications have been severely disrupted, complicating relief operations. Prior to Chido’s arrival, many residences were already vulnerable, with 40% deemed precarious, affecting around 100,000 residents—approximately one-third of the island’s population. Estimates suggest that the true population of Mayotte may be closer to 520,000 when including undocumented migrants, primarily from Comoros.
Tropical Cyclone Chido’s formation on 5 December in the Indian Ocean marked the onset of extreme weather events impacting Mayotte, a French territory. The cyclone’s escalation into one of the strongest storms in the area in nearly a century reveals vulnerabilities in local infrastructure. The island’s precarious housing conditions significantly intensified the storm’s impact, affecting a large portion of the population, including marginalized groups from neighboring regions.
In summary, Tropical Cyclone Chido has had a catastrophic impact on Mayotte, with considerable loss of life, injuries, and extensive infrastructural damage. Emergency response efforts are ongoing to assess and address the aftermath, but the severity of the situation highlights the need for improved resilience in housing and infrastructure to withstand future natural disasters. Moving forward, understanding the demographics of Mayotte, especially the undocumented population, is crucial for effective disaster response and recovery planning.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
