Cyclone Chido, which struck the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, may have caused the deaths of around 1,000 people.
As per Reuters, Cyclone Chido hit Mayotte during the night, with winds exceeding 200km/h (124mph).
The storm has caused serious damage to temporary housing, government buildings and a hospital.
Local prefect Francois-Xavier Bieuville said, "I think there will certainly be several hundreds, maybe we will reach a thousand, even several thousands.”
When asked about the reported deaths of several hundred people, the French interior ministry said that it would be hard to determine the exact number of victims.
As per Meteo-France, it was the most intense storm to strike the islands in more than 90 years.
Residents reported that many trees were torn from the ground and boats were flipped over or sunk.
The French Interior Ministry stated that 1,600 police and gendarmerie officers have been sent to “help the population and prevent potential looting.”
Mayotte, located about 8,000 km away from Paris and is much poorer compared to mainland France.
The island has been dealing with the ongoing problems such as gang violence and social unrest for a long time.
French President is actively following the situation of Mayotte, while Pope Francis expressed his sympathy and offered prayers for the cyclone victim.
