France has sent emergency service workers to Mayotte, its Indian Ocean territory, after the island was hit by a severe tropical cyclone. Winds of more than 225km/h (140mph) were recorded on Saturday morning as Cyclone Chido struck the island, which is located northwest of Madagascar.

Tropical Cyclone Chido struck southeast Africa, killing "perhaps a few thousand" in France's Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte on Saturday and then hitting Mozambique on Sunday, officials said.

The prefect of Mayotte said the death toll could climb. The storm, the equivalent of a Category 3, made landfall in Mozambique on Sunday.

Hundreds of people are presumed dead on the French territory of Mayotte after Cyclone Chido hit the Indian Ocean archipelago. Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville told the Mayotte la 1ère radio station that no official death toll is available,

Following are some facts about the French overseas territory of Mayotte, devastated by Cyclone Chido this weekend. GEOGRAPHY Mayotte is a French territory located off the southeastern shores of Africa.

Local authorities said Sunday that the likely death toll from cyclone Chido's passage across Mayotte was "definitely several hundred" though the disruption means reaching an exact count will be difficult.

France’s Interior Ministry says at least 11 people have died after Cyclone Chido caused devastating damage in the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean

Officials say the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean has suffered extensive damage from Cyclone Chido.

At least 11 people have died and more than 250 have been injured after Cyclone Chido struck the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, French public broadcaster France Info reported on Sunday. BFMTV,