France is rushing help by ship and military aircraft to its poor overseas territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean that has been shattered by its worst storm in nearly a century.

Mayotte Prefect Francois-Xavier Bieuville told broadcaster Mayotte La 1ere that there might be several hundreds of deaths, “maybe we would approach a thousand.” He stressed that the counting of the human toll was difficult.

Cyclone Chido swept through Mayotte overnight, Meteo-France said, bringing winds of more than 200 kph (124 mph) and damaging makeshift housing, government buildings and a hospital. It was the strongest storm in more than 90 years to hit the islands ...