THOUSANDS feared dead as island is hit by 'most powerful cyclone for a century' with devastation from 163mph winds likened to 'nuclear war aftermath'

Thousands are feared dead after an island in the Indian Ocean was hit by a devastating cyclone which carried 163mph winds and left a trail of destruction likened to the aftermath of a nuclear war. Cyclone Chido hit Mayotte, France's poorest region, over the weekend, and has been considered the most violent that the island has experienced in almost a century. Cyclone Chido hit Mayotte, France 's poorest region, over the weekend, and has been considered the most violent that the island has experienced in almost a century Hospitals, homes and vehicles have been wrecked due to Chido's 163mph winds A photo taken on December 15, 2024 shows the 'Karihani' inter-island barge stranded among debris in Mamoudzou after the cyclone Chido hit France's Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte 'We are used to working in these conditions, and a few days after, you have pockets of survivors.' The wreckage of a car lies outside a home, in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido Soldiers on patrol in the French overseas territory of Mayotte as emergency services rush to find survivors There have been international pledges to help Mayotte, including from the regional Red Cross organisation PIROI French gendarmes near their armored vehicle Berliet VXB-170 as they work to remove an unrooted tree from a road, a day after the cyclone Chido hit the archipelago French Army shows soldiers addressing the population in the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, after Cyclone Chido caused extensive damage with reports of several fatalities The streets of the island are covered in debris after the cyclone tore through France's poorest region European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc is 'ready to provide support in the days to come'.