CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) – At least 11 people have since died Wish Cyclone caused terrible damage to the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, the French Interior Ministry said on Sunday.
The ministry said it was difficult to get a detailed account of the dead and wounded amid fears that the death toll would rise. A hospital in Mayotte said nine people were in critical condition in hospital and 246 others were injured.
The tropical cyclone blew through the southeastern Indian Ocean, also affecting the neighboring islands of Comoros and Madagascar. Mayotte was directly in the path of the cyclone and suffered extensive damage on Saturday, officials said. The prefect of Mayotte said this was the worst cyclone to hit Mayotte in 90 years.
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The French Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, said Saturday night after an emergency meeting in Paris that there were fears that the death toll in Mayotte “will be high.” “
Chido brought winds of more than 220 kph (136 mph), according to the French weather service, tearing metal roofs off houses and destroying many small structures in Mayotte, which has a scattered population of just over 300,000. across two main islands approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) off the east coast of Africa.
In some parts, entire neighborhoods were flattened, and local residents reported that many trees were uprooted and boats were overturned or sunk. The main airport also suffered significant damage, the French transport minister said.
The poorest island in FranceMayotte has previously struggled with drought and underinvestment.
Chido has now made landfall in Mozambique on the African mainland, where emergency officials have warned that 2.5 million people in two northern regions could be affected. Landlocked countries Malawi and Zimbabwe have also made plans and are preparing to be affected, with both countries warning that they may have to evacuate people from low-lying areas due to flooding.
A series of strong cyclones have hit the southeast Indian Ocean in recent years, including Cyclone Idai in 2019 it left more than 1,500 people dead in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
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Corbet reported from Paris.
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AP Africa News: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
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