The island territory of France was affected by Cyclone Chida

The French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean was hit by the strongest cyclone to hit the islands in almost a century.

At least two people were reported dead on Saturday when Cyclone Chida made landfall with wind gusts of more than 225 km/h (140 mph), and there are fears more could be killed.

French President Emmanuel Macron said France would “be there” for the people of Mayotte, while French officials said 250 firefighters and security personnel would be sent to the islands, some of whom had already arrived.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retaillo said “all the makeshift homes were completely destroyed” and he feared the death toll would be “high”.

Mayotte, located northwest of Madagascar, is an archipelago consisting of one main island, Grand Terre, and several smaller ones.

Even before the cyclone hit with full force on Saturday morning, there were reports of trees being uprooted, roofs ripped off buildings and power lines down.

The head of Mayotte’s firefighters’ union, Abdul Karim Ahmed Alaoui, told the BFM news channel on Saturday morning that “even the emergency workers are blocked”.

He continued: “There is no mobile service and we cannot contact the people on the island.

“Even the buildings built according to earthquake resistance standards did not survive.

“The command center of the Ministry of Emergency Situations has been evacuated and is operating at partial capacity.”

The island’s Pomandy airport “suffered serious damage, especially the control tower,” France’s acting transport minister, Francois Durouret, wrote on X.

Air traffic “will be restored initially with military assistance aircraft. Ships are en route to ensure resupply,” he added.

Interior Minister Reteiro wrote in a statement on X: “I offer my full support to the people of Mayotte. State and local emergency services are fully mobilized. 110 civil security officers and firefighters have already been deployed and are on site. A second dispatch will be made tomorrow with an additional 140 man”.

French Prime Minister Francois Bairro, who took office on Friday, said the cyclone was of “exceptional severity” and he was receiving updates on the situation “hour by hour”.

Mayotte was initially placed under purple alert – the highest level – and a “strict closure for the entire population, including emergency services” was imposed. It has since been downgraded to red to allow emergency services to leave their bases.

Reteillo said the island hasn’t seen such severe weather since 1934.

Cyclone Chido is also expected to make landfall in Mozambique on the African mainland.