Paris, December 18 (IANS). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the devastation caused by the devastating storm Chido in Mayotte, France. He also offered all possible help. Respecting PM Modi’s condolences, President Emmanuel Macron expressed his gratitude.
Chido was a devastating storm that struck the French archipelago of Mayotte on Saturday.
According to France, Cyclone Chido was the most powerful storm to hit Mayotte in more than 90 years.
Catastrophic winds razed entire neighborhoods, destroyed electrical grids and caused significant damage to critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and the airport control tower.
Prime Minister Modi had earlier expressed his condolences, saying, “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 the leadership of President Emmanuel Macron, France India stands in solidarity with France and is ready to provide all possible assistance.”
Responding to Prime Minister Modi’s message, President Macron wrote on social media platform X, “Dear Narendra Modi, thank you for your thoughts and support.”
Cyclone Chido, a Category 4 storm, struck the southwestern Indian Ocean over the weekend.
The cyclone first impacted northern Madagascar, then rapidly made landfall in Mayotte with wind speeds of more than 220 km/h (136 mph).
The storm, which affected the archipelago of more than 300,000 inhabitants, also caused widespread destruction in northern Mozambique.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou commented during a meeting, “Everyone understands that this was a cyclone that was unexpectedly destructive.”
The death toll from the cyclone is staggering, with officials fearing the death toll could be in the thousands.
“I think there will certainly be several hundred, maybe we will have a thousand or even several thousand” deaths, according to Prefect François-Xavier Beauville, as reported by broadcaster Mayotte La Premier.
Initial reports confirmed 11 deaths, but the number is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Tuesday expressed concern over the disappearance of more than 200 of its volunteers in Mayotte.
“Winds of up to 220 km/h caused by Cyclone Chido have devastated the French overseas territory of Mayotte. It is feared that more than 200 … volunteers are missing,” the IFRC said on Friday.
–IANS
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