On Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his sadness over the damage caused by Cyclone Chido in Mayotte, an island near Madagascar. He said India is ready to help. In a post on X, he expressed his thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families, and he is confident that France, under President Emmanuel Macron, will recover from this tragedy.
Cyclone Chido has resulted in 22 deaths and injured over 1,400 people in Mayotte. The storm brought winds up to 200 km/h, causing destruction across the island. Many areas are still blocked, making it hard to know how many more people are missing.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said Mayotte has been “completely devastated,” affecting 70% of the local people. He announced that an extra 400 paramilitary personnel will join 1,600 already there to help with rescue and recovery efforts.
Starting Friday, France will enforce a nighttime curfew from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM to prevent looting and stop diseases from spreading. Many people in Mayotte live in poverty and do not have safe homes.
President Macron called the situation a “tragedy” and promised to visit Mayotte soon. French officials say they expect to restore half of the island’s water supply within 48 hours, and more food and water will arrive shortly.
In nearby Mozambique, at least 34 people have died due to the cyclone, with over 300 injured from heavy rain. Cyclone Chido is the strongest to hit the region in over 90 years. Experts warn that warmer oceans are making cyclones stronger, which could lead to more disasters if global warming continues.
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