Paris: A devastating cyclone, the strongest to strike the French Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte in nearly a century, has likely claimed the lives of several hundred people, with some estimates suggesting the toll could rise into the thousands, according to a senior local official. "I believe the death toll will certainly reach into the hundreds, and it could even approach a thousand, possibly more," said François-Xavier Bieuville, the prefect of Mayotte, speaking on local media channel Mayotte La 1ère on Sunday.

The French Interior Ministry, when asked about the toll from Cyclone Chido, stated that it would be difficult to provide an accurate count of the victims at this time, as the situation remains unclear.

Cyclone Chido, which struck Mayotte overnight, brought winds exceeding 200 km/h (124 mph), causing widespread destruction of homes, government buildings, and a hospital. Meteo-France described it as the most powerful storm to hit the islands in over 90 years.

"What we're witnessing is a tragedy; it feels like the aftermath of a nuclear disaster... I saw entire neighborhoods wiped out," said Mohamed Ishmael, a resident of Mamoudzou, the island’s capital, in a phone interview with Reuters.

Aerial footage released by the French gendarmerie showed the aftermath of the storm, with debris from hundreds of makeshift homes scattered across the hills of one of Mayotte's islands, a known hotspot for illegal immigration from the nearby Comoros islands. Images from local media also showed scenes of chaos: a mother pushing a newborn’s crib down a flooded hospital corridor, capsized police boats lying on the shore, and coconut trees piercing through the roofs of buildings.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences, saying, "My thoughts are with our fellow citizens in Mayotte, who have endured these horrific hours, some losing everything, even their lives."

Mayotte, which has seen thousands of migrants attempting to reach its shores from Comoros—lured by a higher standard of living and access to France’s social services—already faces a complex social landscape. According to the French Interior Ministry, more than 100,000 undocumented migrants live in Mayotte. The cyclone’s destruction is compounded by concerns over food, water, and sanitation shortages in the aftermath.

"Assessing the toll will be challenging," a French Interior Ministry official explained, noting that Mayotte's Muslim traditions require the dead to be buried within 24 hours, complicating efforts to compile a complete count.

Located almost 8,000 km (5,000 miles) from Paris, Mayotte is one of the poorest regions of France, plagued by gang violence and social unrest. Over 75% of the population lives below the poverty line, and tensions flared earlier this year due to a water crisis. The French government has begun setting up an airlift from Réunion, another French overseas territory, to assist with the relief efforts.

The cyclone’s impact continues as it made its way to northern Mozambique on Sunday, though the extent of the damage there remains unclear. The internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported on X that heavy rains and winds had disrupted power and telecommunications in the region.

In neighboring Comoros, the cyclone caused some damage, injuring two people, displacing 24 others, and destroying 21 homes, according to local authorities.

Mayotte, which was colonized by France in 1843 and became part of the French colonial empire in 1904, has a complex history with the Comoros. While Comoros declared independence in 1975, Mayotte chose to remain French in a 1974 referendum, with 63% of voters supporting this decision. Today, Mayotte remains a French territory, governed from Paris.