French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting in response to the catastrophic consequences of a hurricane that struck the overseas territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean.
On Monday evening, Macron gathered representatives from all relevant services and agencies to plan further assistance for the residents of Mayotte. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated that determining the exact death toll could take several days. The local prefect reported that the number of fatalities is likely “in the hundreds, if not thousands.”
During its Monday session, the National Assembly observed a minute of silence for the victims.
The National Health Agency announced a call for volunteers to travel to the archipelago on a medical mission. Initial aid began arriving as early as Sunday.
It is worth noting that on Saturday, Cyclone Chido hit Mayotte. The hurricane is being described as possibly the strongest in the past 90 years, with wind speeds reaching up to 220 kilometers per hour.
Preliminary estimates suggest that the disaster destroyed the homes of about one-third of the archipelago’s population of 100,000. The infrastructure has been severely damaged, and only a few telecommunications towers remain operational.
