The day after the passage of Cyclone Chido which devastated Mayotte, aid transported by an airlift began to arrive on Sunday December 15 in the ” apocalyptic decor » from the poorest department in France. If the cyclone officially caused at least 14 deaths, this figure would reach “ certainly several hundred », according to the prefect of this French department, “ maybe ” even ” a few thousand “.
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The official assessment is still very provisional, but the authorities fear that it “ be heavy », as the resigning French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said on Saturday December 14. Seeming to confirm these fears, the prefect of this French overseas department stated “ think » that after the passage of cyclone Chido, “ there will certainly be several hundred, perhaps we will approach a thousand, or even a few thousand » deaths, declared François-Xavier Bieuville on the public channel Mayotte la 1ère.
So far, the authorities have put forward the figure of at least 14 deaths. But according to the prefect, it will be “ very difficult to have a final assessment » given that the Muslim tradition, very anchored in the completely destroyed precarious housing neighborhoods, requires that people be buried ” within 24 hours “.
More information to come…