France is rushing aid to help the Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte by ship and military aircraft after the island was devastated by Cyclone Chido – the worst storm to hit the region in nearly a century., reports RFI.
Rescue teams and medical personnel have been sent to the island off the east coast of Africa from France and from the nearby French overseas territory of Réunion, as well as tonnes of supplies.
The authorities in Mayotte fear hundreds – possibly thousands – of people have died in Cyclone Chido.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has arrived in Mamoudzou, the capital of Mayotte, where he told French media: "It will take days and days to establish the human toll".
French authorities say more than 800 more personnel are expected to arrive in the coming days as rescuers comb through the devastation caused by Chido when it hit the densely populated archipelago of around 300,000 people on Saturday.