France rushes help to Mayotte where hundreds died in Cyclone Chido

Rescue workers clear an area in the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, after Cyclone Chido caused extensive damage with reports of several fatalities (Securite civile via AP)

France was rushing help by ship and military aircraft to its poor overseas territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean after the island was shattered by its worst storm in nearly a century.

Authorities in Mayotte fear hundreds and possibly thousands of people have died in Cyclone Chido, although the official death toll on Monday morning stood at 14.