Close to 1,000 people feared dead after cyclone in Mayotte

Published

3 days ago

December 16, 2024

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Close to 1,000 people may have been killed after Cyclone Chido hit Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, the island’s top official has said.

Mayotte Prefect Francois-Xavier Bieuville told local TV station la 1ere: “I think there are some several hundred dead, maybe we’ll get close to a thousand, even thousands… given the violence of this event.”

He said it was currently “extremely difficult” to get an exact number.

Officials had confirmed at least 11 deaths in Mayotte, an overseas department of France, earlier on Sunday but said that was expected to increase.

Cyclone Chido caused extensive damage on Saturday, with nearby islands of Comoros and Madagascar also affected as it blew through the southeastern Indian Ocean.

Forecaster Meteo-France said it was the strongest storm in more than 90 years to hit the islands.

Winds of more than 136mph ripped roofs off houses and destroyed buildings in Mayotte.

Entire neighbourhoods were flattened, while residents reported many trees had been uprooted and boats had been flipped or sunk.

The main airport and hospital also suffered major damage, the new French prime minister Francois Bayrou said.

He added many people living in precarious shacks in slum areas have faced very serious risks.

One hospital in Mayotte reported that nine people were in critical condition and another 246 others were injured.

But France‘s interior ministry said it was proving difficult to get a precise tally of the dead and injured – though interior minister Bruno Retailleau feared the number killed “will be high”.

The ministry said 1,600 police and gendarmerie officers have been deployed, alongside rescuers and firefighters from Mayotte and the nearby territory of Reunion. Supplies were also being rushed in on military aircraft and ships.

Mayotte has a population of just over 300,000 spread over two main islands about 500 miles off Africa’s east coast.

It is France’s poorest region and has struggled with drought, underinvestment, and gang violence for decades.

Cyclone Chido has now made landfall in Mozambique on the African mainland, where the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said Cabo Delgado province, home to around two million people, had been hit hard.

“Many homes, schools and health facilities have been partially or completely destroyed and we are working closely with government to ensure continuity of essential basic services,” the organisation said.

“While we are doing everything we can, additional support is urgently needed.”

UNICEF Mozambique spokesman Guy Taylor said in a video that communities now face the prospect of being cut off from schools and health facilities for weeks.

Malawi and Zimbabwe have also made emergency plans, with both countries warning they may have to evacuate people from low-lying areas due to flooding.

December through March is cyclone season in the southeastern Indian Ocean, and southern Africa has been pummelled by a series of strong ones in recent years.

Cyclone Idai in 2019 killed more than 1,300 people in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe while Cyclone Freddy left more than 1,000 dead across several countries last year.

The cyclones bring the risk of flooding and landslides, but also stagnant pools of water may later spark deadly outbreaks of the waterborne disease cholera as well as dengue fever and malaria.

Studies say the cyclones are getting worse because of climate change. They can leave poor countries in southern Africa, which contribute a tiny amount to global warming, having to deal with large humanitarian crises – underlining their call for more help from rich nations to deal with the impact of climate change.

World

Looking Back at 2024: A World in Turmoil

Published

6 hours ago

December 18, 2024

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Looking Back at 2024: A World in Turmoil

👉Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim on your podcast app👈

In this special episode, Richard and Yalda take a look back at the biggest world news stories of 2024.

From reporting on the frontlines of Ukraine and Lebanon, to witnessing the election of Trump in Washington, Richard and Yalda have criss-crossed the planet covering global events.

They take a look back at the most significant stories they have reported on, answer some listener questions and discuss what countries and conflicts they will be watching in 2025.

To get in touch or share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk.

World

Former Australia rugby boss Alan Jones denies sex charges against 10 males

Published

6 hours ago

December 18, 2024

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Former Australia rugby boss Alan Jones denies sex charges against 10 males

A well-known former boss of Australia’s national rugby team has denied dozens of sex charges against 10 males.

Alan Jones – who was also a radio presenter for many years – appeared in court for the first time since his arrest last month.

The 83-year-old is accused of 34 charges of aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, sexual touching without consent and common assault.

Some of the complainants are as young as 17 and police said the alleged offences happened between 2001 and 2019.

Jones wasn’t asked to enter a plea during Wednesday’s hearing in Sydney but afterwards told media he would fight the claims at trial.

“I am certainly not guilty and I’ll be presenting my account to a jury,” Jones said.

“These allegations are all either baseless or they distort the truth. I have never indecently assaulted these people. I am emphatic that I’ll be defending every charge,” he added.

Police charged Jones with 24 offences related to eight males on 18 November, prompting two more complainants to come forward.

His lawyer, Bryan Wrench, told the judge his client welcomed a jury trial so he could clear his name.

“There have been many… untruths published by the media and the police in this matter,” Mr Wrench said.

Jones coached the Wallabies – Australia‘s rugby union side – for four years from 1984, winning 86 of his 102 matches.

He went on to host a popular morning radio show in Sydney from 2002 until 2020 and was highly influential in the media.

Jones was also known for his conservative politics and once worked as a speechwriter for Michael Fraser, who was prime minister for eight years until 1983.

He’s been free on bail since his arrest last month.

An administrative hearing in the case is now scheduled for 11 March.

World

Israel denies reports Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks

Published

6 hours ago

December 18, 2024

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Israel denies reports Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has rejected Reuters reports that he is heading to Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks.

The news agency earlier said that a deal is expected to be signed in the coming days, citing sources briefed on the meetings.

However, his spokesperson messaged journalists to say: “The prime minister is not in Cairo.”

Mr Netanyahu has today visited Mount Hermon on the Syrian side of the border.

While there, he said Israeli troops will occupy a buffer zone inside Syria for the foreseeable future – and “until another arrangement is found that will ensure Israel’s security”.

Meanwhile, Hamas said a Gaza ceasefire deal is possible but only if Israel did not set new conditions.

This comes after the number of deaths in Gaza in the Israel-Hamas war, according to Palestinian officials, passed 45,000 people this week.

Despite the denials, reports hint at deal optimism

If Benjamin Netanyahu is on his way to Egypt, or planning to go, it would be seen as a significant development in ceasefire talks.

The denials from his office, and on Egyptian state television, suggest it isn’t true, although the reports themselves, so far only from Reuters, are a sign of optimism that a deal could be nearing.

Little has leaked from recent talks, an indication no one wants to jeopardise this opportunity, but there have been reports from all involved that the two sides are getting closer to an agreement.

When this might happen is unclear. Some have suggested within days, but the White House said on Monday night that they hoped it could be finalised before the end of the month, suggesting there are still small areas of disagreement.

It’s understood that Hamas has softened on its demand that Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza before any hostages are released. That would be a major hurdle removed.

But the identity of the Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange is still being negotiated, as is the status of the IDF in Gaza beyond the initial two to six week first phase of a ceasefire.

White House spokesperson John Kirby has said in an interview with Fox News the US believed the parties were getting closer to the long-awaited ceasefire.

He told the broadcaster: “We believe – and the Israelis have said this – that we’re getting closer, and no doubt about it, we believe that, but we also are cautious in our optimism.

“We’ve been in this position before where we weren’t able to get it over the finish line.”

Mr Kirby did not respond when asked if Mr Netanyahu was travelling to Cairo for talks.

Egyptian state-affiliated al Qahera News TV also refuted claims of Mr Netanyahu’s trip to Egypt, citing an “informed Egyptian source”.

Mr Netanyahu was supposed to originally be in court on Tuesday over his ongoing bribery and fraud trial, but on Monday he was given an exemption for proceedings citing exceptional circumstances – without any details being made public.