France observes day of mourning for Mayotte cyclone victims

France will observe a day of national mourning after Cyclone Chido devastated the Indian Ocean region of Mayotte earlier this month.

French President Emmanuel Macron called for nationwide remembrance during his visit to the island last week – where some islanders jeered him and criticized the slow delivery of aid.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people are feared dead after Chido made landfall off the south-eastern coast of Africa on December 14, bringing winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) and 250 km/h (160 mph) in the first 24 hours. It rained mm.

People across France will pay tribute and flags will fly at half-mast in a show of solidarity in cities including Paris, Marseille and Lyon.

More than a week after the storm, survivors are still struggling without water, communications and electricity while rescue workers try to provide urgently needed aid.

Mayotte, which lies between the African mainland and Madagascar, was already the poorest region of France before the cyclone hit.

Chido – the worst typhoon to hit the archipelago in 90 years – flattens areas where people live in shacks with metal roofs and fields of dirt and debris remain.

French authorities have reported at least 31 people killed, but the death toll is feared to be much higher as thousands are still missing.

After Mayotte, the storm hits the African mainland, At least 94 people died in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.,

Macron promised to rebuild the island’s destroyed infrastructure and homes after his visit.

after the tour Area from helicopter to view devastationHe said he will never forget Thursday.

During the trip he was Pushed and faced calls to resign From local people who called for more aid to the devastated areas.

Macron told locals, “I had nothing to do with the cyclone. You can blame me, but it wasn’t me.”

Prime Minister François Bayrou said that the Mayotte tragedy was possibly the worst natural disaster in French history over the past centuries.

More than 100,000 people are living in Red Cross shelters after their homes were destroyed.