International

Hundreds feared dead after Mayotte hit by cyclone

Published

1 year ago

December 16, 2024

Rescue workers have been clearing debris to try to find survivors

Hundreds feared dead after Mayotte hit by cyclone

Hundreds of people are feared dead in Mayotte after the French Indian Ocean territory was devastated by a powerful cyclone.

Entire settlements were flattened when Cyclone Chido brought wind speeds of more than 225km/h (140mph), with the poorest living in makeshift shelters particularly hard hit.

Rescue workers, including reinforcements from France, are combing through the debris searching for survivors.

Widespread damage to infrastructure – with downed power lines and impassable roads – is severely hindering emergency operations.

Some of Mayotte’s population of 320,000 have said they are struggling with severe shortages of food, water and shelter.

One resident of the capital city, Mamoudzou, waiting in line for supplies said: “We’ve had no water for three days now, so it’s starting to be a lot.

“We’re trying to get the bare minimum to live on, because we don’t know when the water will come back.”

Another Mamoudzou resident, John Balloz, said he was surprised he did not die when the cyclone struck.

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“It was the wind, the wind blowing, and I was panicked, I screamed, ‘We need help, we need help.’ I was screaming because I could see the end coming for me,” he said.

Mohamed Ishmael, who also lives in the capital, told Reuters news agency the situation there was “a tragedy” and said: “You feel like you are in the aftermath of a nuclear war… I saw an entire neighbourhood disappear.”

Another said they had used a nearby school for shelter, adding: “We can still take refuge with our neighbours, and we’re still sticking together and being cautious. We need everyone to hold hands.”

Mayotte’s impoverished communities, including undocumented migrants who have travelled to the French territory in an effort to claim asylum, are thought to have been particularly hard hit due to the vulnerable nature of their housing

Its population is heavily dependent on French financial aid and has long struggled with poverty, unemployment and political instability.

About 75% of the population lives below the national poverty line and unemployment hovers at around one in three.

French President Emmanuel Macron said his thoughts are with “our compatriots in Mayotte, who have gone through the most horrific few hours and who have, for some, lost everything, lost their lives”.

While some French aid and rescue workers have reached Mayotte, efforts to get to some communities are still under way.

Francois-Xavier Bieuville, the island’s prefect, told local media the death toll could rise significantly once the damage is fully assessed. He warned it will “definitely be several hundred” and could reach the thousands.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who is scheduled to visit the island to assess the damage and coordinate further relief efforts, acknowledged the “exceptional severity” of the cyclone and assured that efforts to assist the population are being ramped up.

Cyclone Chido also made landfall in Mozambique, where it brought flash flooding, uprooted trees and damaged buildings about 25 miles (40km) south of the northern city of Pemba.

The cyclone caused structural damage and power outages in the northern coastal provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado on Saturday morning, authorities reported.

Guy Taylor, a spokesperson for aid agency Unicef in Mozambique, said “we were hit very hard in the early hours of this morning”.

“Many houses were destroyed or seriously damaged, and healthcare facilities and schools are out of action,” he added.

Mr Taylor said Unicef is concerned about “loss of access to critical services”, including medical treatment, clean water and sanitation, and also “the spread of diseases like cholera and malaria”.

Hundreds feared dead after Mayotte hit by cyclone

BBC

International

Several U.S. Warplanes Crash in Kuwait Amid Ongoing Iranian Strikes

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Several U.S. Warplanes Crash in Kuwait Amid Ongoing Iranian Strikes

Several U.S. military warplanes crashed in Kuwait on Monday, March 2, 2026, amid ongoing Iranian retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region, Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence confirmed.

According to the ministry, all aircrews survived, were safely evacuated, and were taken to hospitals for evaluation. Their condition is reported as stable, and an investigation into the cause of the crashes is underway.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that three F‑15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defence systems during heightened aerial operations, marking a friendly-fire incident amid the ongoing U.S.–Iran conflict.

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Smoke was also reported near the United States Embassy in Kuwait City, though officials have not confirmed any direct strike on the compound. The embassy issued a security alert advising people to avoid the area due to continuing threats from missiles and drones.

The crashes coincide with Iran’s third consecutive day of retaliatory attacks following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, targeting military bases, infrastructure, and strategic sites across Gulf countries, including UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain. Iranian strikes have already resulted in civilian casualties, injuries, and property damage.

Kuwaiti authorities reported that debris from intercepted Iranian missiles and drones caused minor injuries to workers at the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery. Kuwaiti air defence systems reportedly intercepted several incoming projectiles, helping prevent further casualties.

The incident highlights the risks of airspace misidentification in a region where multiple allied and hostile forces are operating simultaneously. Analysts warn that such events could escalate tensions further, particularly as Iran continues targeting U.S. and allied military assets in the Gulf.

The ongoing conflict has prompted heightened security measures across Gulf states, including embassy alerts and travel advisories, as concerns grow over the potential for a broader regional confrontation.

Several U.S. Warplanes Crash in Kuwait Amid Ongoing Iranian Strikes

International

Israeli Airstrikes Kill 31 in Lebanon as Hezbollah Loses Senior Figures

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Israeli Airstrikes Kill 31 in Lebanon as Hezbollah Loses Senior Figures

Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 31 people in Lebanon, following renewed cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, Lebanese health authorities have confirmed.

The overnight Israeli raids targeted southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, areas regarded as strongholds of Hezbollah. The Lebanon Ministry of Public Health said more than 100 people were injured, adding that the death toll could rise as several victims remain in critical condition.

Israel’s military said the attacks were aimed at Hezbollah infrastructure and senior operatives. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described the strikes as a response to recent rocket and drone fire from Lebanese territory into northern Israel, which Israeli officials said posed a direct threat to civilian communities.

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Lebanese security sources reported that several senior Hezbollah figures were among those killed, though the group has not released an official list of casualties or confirmed the identities of the alleged commanders. Hezbollah has acknowledged losses but has so far withheld operational details.

Residents in Beirut’s southern districts reported multiple explosions before dawn, with thick plumes of smoke rising over residential and commercial areas. In towns close to the Israel–Lebanon border, emergency workers searched through rubble, while ambulances rushed the wounded to hospitals already under severe strain.

The latest escalation follows days of rising tension along the Israel–Lebanon frontier, marked by near-daily exchanges of fire. Hezbollah has said its cross-border attacks are retaliation for Israeli military actions elsewhere in the region, while Israel has warned it will not tolerate sustained threats to its northern border.

Security analysts warn the latest violence risks dragging Lebanon deeper into a widening regional confrontation, at a time when the country is battling economic crisis, political instability, and overstretched public services.

Despite intensifying international calls for restraint, both sides have placed security forces on heightened alert. With senior figures reportedly killed and retaliatory rhetoric hardening, fears are growing that the conflict could escalate further in the coming days.

Israeli Airstrikes Kill 31 in Lebanon as Hezbollah Loses Senior Figures

International

Iran Retaliates: Gulf States Allied With US Hit by Missiles, Drones

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Iran Retaliates: Gulf States Allied With US Hit by Missiles, Drones

Iran Retaliates: Gulf States Allied With US Hit by Missiles and Drones

Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia – Gulf nations allied with the United States have borne the brunt of Iranian missile and drone attacks in a dramatic escalation following US‑Israeli strikes on Iranian territory. The offensive, launched by Iran over the weekend, has targeted both military and civilian infrastructure, causing casualties, property damage, and widespread concern across the region.

According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, its air defences intercepted 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 541 drones aimed at the Emirates, preventing larger-scale devastation. However, debris from interceptions has still caused property damage and civilian injuries, with at least three deaths confirmed. Airports and commercial areas in Abu Dhabi and Dubai faced temporary closures as emergency measures were implemented.

Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have also reported missile and drone strikes, with UAE‑style interception efforts mitigating some of the damage. Civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, airports, and commercial facilities, sustained damage from falling debris. Local authorities confirmed that dozens of people were injured, some critically.

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The attacks follow Iran’s warning that it would retaliate against any US and Israeli military action. Iranian officials have denied targeting neighboring states directly, insisting that strikes are aimed at US forces and allies in the region. Nevertheless, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries condemned the attacks, describing them as violations of sovereignty and international law. They have coordinated with the United States to bolster defensive measures and prevent further civilian harm.

In Saudi Arabia, missiles were intercepted over Riyadh and the Eastern Province, prompting an official statement condemning the attacks as “blatant and cowardly.” Oman, traditionally neutral and mediating in nuclear talks, also experienced limited drone strikes on its commercial port at Duqm.

Regional and global responses have been swift. The United States and Israel continue their operations to degrade Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, while Gulf states brace for potential further escalation. Experts warn that continued attacks could destabilize energy markets, especially through key corridors like the Strait of Hormuz, and exacerbate political tensions in the region.

The ongoing crisis highlights the risks faced by Gulf allies of the US, who are now directly exposed to Iran’s military retaliation. Observers caution that while air defences have mitigated a large-scale catastrophe, prolonged conflict could have severe humanitarian, economic, and security consequences.