UP to 1,000 people are feared dead after a horror cyclone ripped through a French island in the Indian Ocean, an official has said.
Cyclone Chido has left a terrifying trail of destruction in its wake due to the 136mph winds which have been described as the worst seen for 90 years.
Harrowing pictures show the devastation left behind due to the powerful cyclone after it battered several islands over the weekend.
Trees had been ripped from the ground as entire homes were left without their roofs as the terrifying winds brutally blew them away.
The main airport and hospital in Mayotte – the worst hit territory – was also left with major damage, according to new French prime minister Francois Bayrou.
He added that those living in shacks in the poorer areas of the island could face further problems in the coming days.
Cyclones often leave behind stagnant pools of water which can spark deadly cholera outbreaks in less developed areas.
The risks of people suffering from dengue fever and malaria are also likely to rise.
Mayotte Prefect Francois-Xavier Bieuville told local TV station la 1ere that the death toll is set to continue to surge as rescue operations begin to take place.
He said: “I think there are some several hundred dead, maybe we’ll get close to a thousand, even thousands… given the violence of this event.”
He added it is “extremely difficult” to get an exact figure at the moment.
French interior minister Bruno Retailleau also fears the number of deaths “will be high”.
Officials have so far confirmed at least 11 people have died in Mayotte as of Sunday morning when the cyclone made landfall.
One hospital says that nine people are in a critical condition with another 246 injured.
The French army has been deployed to the worst affected areas on the island to help with the clean up and recovery operations.
They are helping over 1,600 cops and gendarmerie officers who are already on the island.
Emergency supplies have been rushed in on military aircraft and ships to help those forced to evacuate their homes.
Mayotte is made up of just over 300,000 people spread across two separate islands around 500 miles off the east coast of Africa.
It is considered to be France’s poorest region.
Nearby islands of Comoros and Madagascar were also badly affected on Saturday as it blew the strong winds through the southeastern Indian Ocean.
Top forecaster Meteo-France described Cyclone Chido as the strongest storm in more than 90 years to hit the island territories.
Aid agencies are now warning that all affected areas, including nearby Mozambique, to expect the death toll to rise.
Officials are also concerned over the potential outbreak of looting which could now occur with the territory left in chaos.
