A robust cyclone slammed into Mayotte early on Saturday, killing no less than two individuals and inflicting the worst storm devastation to hit the French abroad territory for nearly a century, officers mentioned.France’s Inside Minister Bruno Retailleau mentioned the federal government had despatched 110 civil safety army officers and firefighters to its former colony, which lies between Madagascar and mainland Africa, and would ship one other 140 on Sunday.“The injury is already essential,” Retailleau added in a publish on social media platform X.Authorities had put the archipelago on excessive alert and warned residents to remain in-doors, with gusts of wind blowing as much as about 200 kph (124 mph), Mayotte’s prefect, a high native official, wrote in a publish on Fb.“Our island is at this second deeply affected by probably the most violent and damaging cyclone that we’ve seen since 1934. Many people have misplaced all the things,” the prefect mentioned.The storm, which made landfall within the morning, is anticipated to stay harmful because it strikes southwest, a climate bulletin mentioned.The 2 individuals who died have been on the Mayotte island of Petit-Terre, French media re-ported on Saturday, citing a safety supply.President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou and Retailleau all mentioned in social media posts that they have been following the state of affairs carefully. The prime minister’s workplace mentioned Bayrou can be taking part in a gathering on the Interministerial Disaster Centre.Native officers in Mayotte didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.Positioned almost 8,000 km (4,970 miles) from Paris, Mayotte is considerably poorer than the remainder of France and has grappled with gang violence and social unrest for many years. Tensions have been exacerbated earlier this yr by a water scarcity.
