France’s Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte has been struck by the worst cyclone to hit the islands in nearly a century.
At least two people were reportedly killed when Cyclone Chido made landfall on Saturday, causing wind gusts of more than 225km/h (140mph), and it is feared more may have died.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France would “be there” for the people of Mayotte, while French officials said 250 firefighters and security personnel would be sent to the islands, with some having already arrived.
France’s interior minister Bruno Retailleau said “all makeshift homes have been completely destroyed” and he feared a “heavy” death toll.
Located north-west of Madagascar, Mayotte is an archipelago comprised of one main island, Grand-Terre, and several smaller ones.
Even before the cyclone hit with full force on Saturday morning, there were reports of trees being uprooted, roofs being ripped off buildings and power lines being downed.
The head of Mayotte’s firefighters’ union, Abdoul Karim Ahmed Allaoui, told the BFM news channel on Saturday morning “even emergency responders are locked down”.
He continued: “There’s no mobile phone service and we can’t reach people on the island.
“Even buildings built to earthquake standards haven’t held up.
“The emergency services command centre has been evacuated and is functioning at partial capacity.”
The island’s Pamandzi airport “suffered major damage, especially to the control tower,” acting French Transport Minister Francois Durovray wrote on X.
Air traffic “will be restored initially with military aid planes. Ships are on the way to ensure resupply,” he added.
Interior Minister Retailleau wrote in a statement on X: “I offer my full support to the people of Mayotte. The state and local emergency services are fully mobilized. 110 civil security personnel and firefighters have already been sent and are on site. A second dispatch will be made tomorrow with 140 additional personnel.”
French Prime Minister François Bayrou, who took up the post on Friday, said the cyclone was of “exceptional severity” and he was being updated on the situation “hour by hour”.
Mayotte was initially placed under a purple alert – the highest level – and a “strict lockdown for the whole population, including emergency services” was imposed. It has since been lowered to red to allow emergency services to leave their bases.
Retailleau said the island had not experienced such severe weather since 1934.
Cyclone Chido is also expected to hit Mozambique on the African mainland.
