The tropical storm has devastated the French territory located in the Indian Ocean, north of Madagascar. The number of dead in the French territory of Mayotte due to cyclone Chido could reach 1,000, the island's top government official reported on Sunday.

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.

Local authorities said the cyclone, which made landfall with wind speeds above 140 mph, devastated several “shantytowns” across the island.