Indian Ocean Islands of Mayotte Devastated by Cyclone Chida

The storm was recorded to have winds of more than 225 km/hr and average wave heights of more than five meters. The storm hit northern Madagascar first before it slammed the tiny islands of Mayotte and made landfall in northern Mozambique where more than 5,000 homes are reported to have been destroyed. The impacts of Cyclone Chido are expected to be long lasting, with Crisis24, a risk management company warning about the risks of waterborne disease following the storm. 

Meteo France weather service told AAP that the cyclone was “exceptional” and was supercharged by rising sea surface temperatures. The region has always had severe weather events due to its warm ocean temperatures but in recent years the storms have become more severe and more frequent, with scientists finding that the Pacific Ocean is increasing in temperature at a faster rate than the Pacific and the Atlantic.

In 2021, temperatures in the Indian were measured as high as 87 degrees (F), which increased severe storm activity. Communities in low lying islands are most vulnerable to increased frequency and severity of storms caused by human induced climate change despite often contributing the least emissions. 

The neighboring island of Reunion is acting as a hub for rescue and recovery operations with the French president Emmanuel Macron declaring a national day of mourning. 

The volcanic islands are rich with unique biodiversity. The larger of the two islands, Grande Terre, sits within a ring of barrier reef that creates a large lagoon around the island. This coral reef is supported by mangroves on the shoreline that in some areas are a nursery for species that live along the coral barrier, sequestering carbon and purifying the water. The impacts on this important ecosystem are not yet known.