Hundreds feared dead after Cyclone Chido wrecks French territory

At least several hundred people are feared to have been killed after the worst cyclone in almost a century ripped through the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte on Saturday, uprooting trees, tearing houses apart and pounding the archipelago's already weak infrastructure.

- Sam Jones

Rescuers have been sent to the islands, which lie between the coast of Mozambique and Madagascar, but their efforts will be hindered by damage to airports and electricity distribution in an area where clean drinking water is in short supply.

Speaking to Mayotte's la 1ere TV station yesterday, the archipelago's prefect, Francois-Xavier Bieuville, warned that the confirmed toll of 11 dead was likely to rise. He said: "There will certainly be several hundred, maybe we will reach 1,000, even several thousand."

Bieuville said it would be "very difficult to reach a final count," given that most residents are Muslim and bury their dead within 24 hours.

Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, the mayor of the capital, Mamoudzou, had earlier told Agence France-Presse that nine people were seriously injured when Cyclone Chido hit and were fighting for their lives in hospital, while 246 more were badly hurt.