Cyclone devastates Mayotte

Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte with unprecedented intensity, leaving 22 dead and highlighting how climate change fuels stronger storms.

Taiwo Adebayo reports for The Associated Press.


In short:

  • Cyclone Chido is the most powerful storm to hit Mayotte in 90 years, destroying infrastructure and homes.
  • Warmer ocean temperatures, caused by climate change, are intensifying cyclones, making them more destructive.
  • Inadequate early-warning systems in Africa leave vulnerable regions unprepared, increasing death tolls.

Why this matters:

Rising ocean temperatures due to climate change mean cyclones are becoming deadlier and more frequent. Regions like southeast Africa, with limited forecasting infrastructure, suffer disproportionately. Without improved early-warning systems, lives and livelihoods remain at risk.

Read more: Fossil fuel-driven climate disasters are raising death tolls worldwide

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