As if an atom bomb fell

1,000 feared dead as cyclone blitzes islands

- Lauran O'Toole

RESCUERS are rushing to supply aid amid fears that at least 1,000 people were killed when the worst cyclone in almost a century tore apart the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte.

Authorities fear the death toll will rise after 136mph Cyclone Chido blitzed the archipelago off East Africa.

It devastated infrastructure including the airport, flattened slum neighbourhoods and cut power supplies.

Bruno Garcia, owner of the Hotel Caribou in the capital Mamoudzou, said: "It's as if an atomic bomb fell."

Catastrophic