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Before the cyclone, Ceni was characterized by its fragile housing structures, often pieced together from wood and sheets of metal. According to the French statistics agency, about 100,000 residents across the archipelago lived in such precarious accommodations as of 2020. These facilities, lacking structural integrity, were inadequately fortified to withstand the cyclone’s violent winds and severe weather conditions.

The Sudden Onslaught of Destruction

Rare amateur footage captures the moment when the cyclone's ferocious winds struck Ceni, an event that unfolded with terrifying speed. Homes collapsed within moments, leaving behind piles of debris scattered across the community and altering its physical and emotional landscape drastically.