The strongest cyclone in 90 years has hit the French island: 1,000 casualties expected.

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The toll from Cyclone Chido, which struck the French island in the Indian Ocean, is increasingly horrifying. Authorities have stated that the death toll could reach a thousand.

With winds reaching speeds of 219 kilometers per hour, the cyclone hit Mayotte Island, marking the strongest storm in the last 90 years. Mayotte's Governor Francois-Xavier Bieuville said, "Given the severity of this disaster, we are concerned that the death toll could reach thousands."

Following the Category 4 cyclone, the island's main airport and hospital have become unusable. Many homes have lost their roofs, and trees have been uprooted. Initial reports indicate that 11 people have died, and 246 have been injured. The condition of nine others is critical.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed concerns that the death toll could be much higher. The new French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou highlighted that the situation is particularly serious for the impoverished communities on the island.

Experts warn that due to the water accumulation following the cyclone, there is a risk of the spread of epidemic diseases such as cholera, dengue fever, and malaria in the region.

As the French military deploys to the area, over 1,600 police and gendarmerie officers are involved in rescue operations. Emergency aid supplies are being sent to the region by military aircraft and ships.

In addition to Mayotte, which is located 800 kilometers off the east coast of Africa and is France's poorest region, the Comoros and Madagascar islands have also suffered severe damage from the cyclone. Authorities are also concerned about looting incidents occurring in the chaotic environment.

Search and rescue operations in the region continue uninterrupted following Cyclone Chido, which Meteo-France officials have described as "the most severe storm in the last 90 years."