The prefect of Mayotte estimates “hundreds of deaths” as cyclone ‘Chido’ passes through the overseas territory

The prefect of the French department of Mayotte, an overseas territory between Madagascar and the southeastern coast of continental Africa, estimates that cyclone ‘Chido’ has left “hundreds of dead” as it passed through the archipelago this Saturday, which has been completely devastated.

“I think there are several hundred dead and perhaps we are approaching a thousand,” said François-Xavier Bieuville in statements to the Mayotte La1ere program on the FranceInfo network.

The prefect has pointed out that the current balance of 14 dead and 250 “is not plausible” due to the catastrophic damage caused by the storm and has even ventured that it is possible that a real death toll will never be known because the Muslim tradition professed by the 95 percent of the population requires the burial of their dead within 24 hours.