Cyclone Chido batters Mayotte, leaving a trail of destruction

Hundreds are feared to be dead in Mayotte after Cyclone Chido battered the French Indian Ocean territory on Saturday.

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

Footage shows police officers holding a door as the the cyclone made landfall, leaving a hole in the roof of a building used as shelter.

One resident said the wind had taken everything as he queued to buy food in a supermarket.

It is feared the eventual death toll could stretch into the thousands once the damage is fully assessed and with rescue workers still working to reach some communities.

Read more: Mayotte hit by worst cyclone in 90 years