The death toll in the French territory of Mayotte from Cyclone Chido is “several hundred” and may run into the thousands, the island’s top government official told a local broadcaster Sunday.

The deadliest cyclone in 90 years devastated the French territory, with hundreds feared dead amid a massive rescue operation.

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