Hundreds of people are feared to have died on Mayotte after the French territory in the Indian Ocean was devastated by a powerful cyclone, UNN reports citing the BBC.
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Entire settlements were leveled when Cyclone Chido brought wind speeds of over 225 km/h, with the poorest people living in temporary shelters being particularly hard hit.
Rescuers, including reinforcements from France, are combing through the rubble in search of survivors.
Huge damage to the infrastructure, with downed power lines and impassable roads, seriously complicates emergency operations.
Some of Mayotte's 320,000 ,000 residents said they are experiencing severe shortages of food, water and shelter.
The population of Mayotte, as indicated, is heavily dependent on French financial aid and has long struggled with poverty, unemployment and political instability.
About 75% of the population lives below the national poverty line, and unemployment hovers around one in three.
François-Xavier Beville, the island's prefect, told local media that the death toll could rise significantly once the damage is fully assessed. He warned that it would be "probably several hundred," and perhaps thousands.
Cyclone Chido also hit Mozambique, where it caused flash flooding, uprooted trees and damaged buildings about 40 km south of the northern city of Pemba.
Local authorities reported that the cyclone caused structural damage and power outages in the northern coastal provinces of Nampula and Cabu Delgado on Saturday morning.
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