The death toll in the French territory of Mayotte from Cyclone Chido is “several hundred” and may be close to 1,000. That's according to the island’s top government official who spoke with a local broadcaster Sunday. Mayotte Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville told TV station Mayotte la 1ere that “I think there are some several hundred dead, maybe we’ll get close to a thousand.” He said it was “extremely difficult” to get an exact number right now after the Indian Ocean islands were pummeled by the intense tropical cyclone on Saturday, causing widespread destruction. Officials had confirmed at least 11 deaths in Mayotte earlier Sunday but said that was expected to increase.
