Cyclone Chido Kills Hundreds on French Island of Mayotte

Cyclone Chido hit France’s island Mayotte northwest of Madagascar on Saturday and killed between several hundred and a few thousand, local authorities said.

The category 4 storm tore through the southwestern Indian Ocean over the weekend, hitting Mayotte with winds over 136 miles per hour.

‘Atomic bomb’: This was the worst cyclone to hit the island with 300,000 residents in 90 years. Mayotte is the considered the poorest territory in the European Union, with many poorly constructed slums, ill equipped to withstand a cyclone.

We lost everything. The entire hotel is completely destroyed. … It’s as if an atomic bomb fell on Mayotte.
—Bruno Garcia, hotel owner in Mamoudzou

Honestly, what we are experiencing is a tragedy. You feel like you are in the aftermath of a nuclear war. … I saw an entire neighborhood disappear.
–Mohamed Ishmael, Mamoudzou resident

French rescue workers, soldiers, medical personnel and supplies have been sent, but about two thirds of the island is unreachable because of wrecked roads and communication networks.

Why natural disasters? The Bible shows that God has the ultimate power over the weather. But why would a loving God allow such a destructive storm? To learn the answer, read our free booklet Why ‘Natural’ Disasters?