French President thanks PM Modi for India’s support after Cyclone Chido hit Mayotte

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India’s support following the devastating 100-year cyclone that ripped across the French archipelago of Mayotte on Saturday.

In response to PM Modi’s message, President Macron said on X “Thank you for your thoughts and support, dear @NarendraModi.”

“Deeply saddened by the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido in Mayotte. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. I am confident that under President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership, France will overcome this tragedy with resilience and resolve. India stands in solidarity with France and is ready to extend all possible assistance”, PM Modi said on X.

Deeply saddened by the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido in Mayotte. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. I am confident that under President @EmmanuelMacron’s leadership, France will overcome this tragedy with resilience and resolve. India stands in…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 17, 2024

Cyclone Chido, a category 4 storm, tore through the southwestern Indian Ocean over the weekend, impacting northern Madagascar before rapidly intensifying and slamming Mayotte with winds above 220 kilometres per hour (136 miles per hour), CNN reported citing France’s weather service.

It was the strongest storm to hit the islands in more than 90 years, Meteo-France said. Chido then continued into northern Mozambique where it continued to cause damage, though the storm has now weakened.

The cyclone — the worst to hit the territory of just over 300,000 in at least 90 years — flattened neighbourhoods, knocked out electrical grids, crushed hospitals and schools and damaged the airport’s control tower, as per CNN.

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou remarked, “Everyone understands that this was a cyclone that was unexpectedly violent,” during an inter-ministerial meeting.

The cyclone’s toll has been staggering, with officials fearing that fatalities could be in the thousands. According to Prefect Francois-Xavier Bieuville, “I think there will definitely be several hundred, perhaps we will come close to a thousand or even several thousand” deaths, as reported by broadcaster Mayotte la Premiere.

Initial reports confirmed at least 11 deaths, but the numbers are expected to rise as rescue efforts continue. (ANI)