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.

Hundreds, possibly thousands are feared dead after Cyclone Chido hit the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean.