Cyclone Chido rips through French territory of Mayotte and heads for Africa’s east coast

Associated Press

MORONI, Comoros (AP) — Officials say the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean has suffered extensive damage from Cyclone Chido. Other countries in mainland Africa are bracing as it roars toward the east coast of the continent. Mayotte prefect François-Xavier Bieuville says in a Facebook post on Saturday that “our island is being hit by the most violent and destructive cyclone since 1934. Many of us have lost everything.” French President Emmanuel Macron says he’s closing monitoring the situation and France’s newly-appointed prime minister was to hold an emergency meeting in Paris. The nation of Comoros north of Mayotte also was battered by Chido as it heads toward Africa.