Mayotte, A Two-Island French Colony In Indian Ocean Is Devasted By Cyclone Chido; All You Need To Know About It

Mayotte, a French archipelago in the Indian Ocean was struck by Cyclone Chido in what appears to be one of the biggest storm-related tragedies the world has ever seen. The powerful Cyclone is said to have killed thousands and displaced a large population on the two islands in the small French colony. Videos and photos which surfaced over social media showed wreckage of houses strewn across the hills after the settlements faced gusty winds as strong as 200 kmph, Reuters reported.

The Cyclone which has now reached Mozambique left a trail of death and destruction in Mayotte, shooting the place in the news headlines all across the globe. Here are some key facts about the Mayotte archipelago you should know -

Mayotte: Key Facts

1. A French territory, Mayotte is located off the southeastern coast of Africa. Consisted of two main islands Grande-Terre and Petite-Terre, it lies near the Indian Ocean island countries of Comoros and Madagascar. While Mayotte remained a French colony, Comoros declared independence from France in 1975.

2. The total land area of the islands is around 374 square kilometres and it houses a population of 321,000 people, a Reuter report stated.

3. Mayotte, first settled by Arab seafarers a millennium ago, became a French colony in 1843. Despite a 1974 referendum favouring independence, Mayotte opted to remain French, while other Comorian islands declared independence in 1975. Mayotte remains under French control.

4. Mayotte relies significantly on French financial aid, which has fostered its development. In contrast, Comoros faces poverty and political turmoil due to a booming population, prompting hundreds to undertake perilous sea journeys to reach Mayotte annually.

5. In 1898, Mayotte was devastated by two cyclones, followed by a smallpox epidemic that wiped out many survivors. The sugar industry collapsed and was replaced by crops like vanilla, coffee, sisal, and fragrant plants such as ylang-ylang.

(Images of Mayotte are taken from the official tourism website. Credits: www.mayotte-tourisme.com)