Up to 1,000 people feared dead after most powerful cyclone in 90 YEARS batters French island with destruction for miles
According to an authority, a terrifying hurricane tore through French territory in the Indian Ocean, killing up to 1,000 people.
Cyclone Chido’s 136 mph winds, which have been dubbed the deadliest in 90 years, have left a horrifying trail of devastation in its wake.
The destruction caused by the strong cyclone that pounded the island of Mayotte over the weekend is depicted in graphic images.
As rescue efforts get underway, the death toll is expected to keep rising, Mayotte Prefect Francois-Xavier Bieuville informed local TV station la 1ere.
He stated: “I think there are some several hundred dead, maybe we’ll get close to a thousand, even thousands… given the violence of this event.”
He went on to say that it is currently “extremely difficult” to obtain an exact figure.
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As of this morning, authorities have reported at least 11 fatalities in Mayotte.
To aid with the cleanup and recovery efforts, the French army has been sent to the island’s most severely damaged sections.
As the powerful winds blasted through the southeast Indian Ocean on Saturday, the nearby islands of Comoros and Madagascar were also severely impacted.
It was the strongest storm to hit the island territory in over 90 years, according to top forecaster Meteo-France.
There will be more later.Stay tuned to The Sun Online for the most recent updates on this story.
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