Cyclone Chido devastates French territory of Mayotte – in pictures

Hundreds are feared dead after Cyclone Chido battered the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte on Sunday, with officials warning it will take days to know the full toll. Rescue workers and supplies are being rushed in by air and sea, but their efforts are likely to be hindered by damage to airports and electricity distribution in a territory where even clean drinking water was already subject to chronic shortages.

• Mayotte cyclone: rescuers race to reach survivors

French gendarmes cross an area damaged by Cyclone Chido in Mayotte. France has rushed rescue teams and supplies to its largely poor overseas department.

Photograph: Gendarmerie Nationale/Reuters

Piles of metal sheets, wood, furniture and other debris after Chido hit Mayotte.

Photograph: KWEZI/AFP/Getty Images

Debris on the street in Mamoudzou, the capital of Mayotte, after Cyclone Chido wreaked havoc on the French Indian Ocean territory.

Photograph: John Balloz/Reuters

Rescue workers try to clear a blocked road in the village of Labattoir on Mayotte.

Photograph: Chafion Madi/Reuters

A classroom in the destroyed Cavani primary school in Mayotte’s capital, Mamoudzou.

Photograph: Daniel Mouhamadi/AFP/Getty Images

Flattened houses on a hillside on the French territory of Mayotte.

Photograph: AP

French gendarmes clearing the road in Mayotte.

Photograph: Gendarmerie Nationale/Reuters

A boy sits amid the ruins of homes in the village of Labattoir in Mayotte.

Photograph: Chafion Madi/Reuters

Trees blowing in storm winds in the French overseas territory of Mayotte.

Photograph: Etat-Major Des Armee Handout/EPA

A soldier looks at the cyclone damage in the French overseas territory of Mayotte.

Photograph: Etat-Major Des Armee Handout/EPA

A man carries his belongings as rescue workers attempt to clear a blocked road in the village of Labattoir.

Photograph: Chafion Madi/Reuters

Piles of debris after Cyclone Chido hit Mayotte.

Photograph: Daniel Mouhamadi/AFP/Getty Images

French military personnel unloading medical and emergency equipment from military aircraft which transported rescue teams to the French territory.

Photograph: Richard Bouhet/AFP/Getty Images

French soldiers addressing the population in Mayotte, after Cyclone Chido caused extensive devastation.

Photograph: AP