France mourns the victims of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte

France will observe a national day of mourning after Cyclone Chido devastated its Indian Ocean territory in Mayotte earlier this month.

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

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people are feared dead when Chido made landfall off the southeast coast of Africa on December 14, bringing winds of up to 260 km/h (160 miles per hour) and 250 mm of rainfall in the first 24 hours brought himself.

People across France will pay tribute and in cities such as Paris, Marseille and Lyon flags will be flown at half-mast in a show of solidarity.

More than a week after the storm, survivors are struggling without water, communications and power as rescuers try to provide much-needed help.

Mayotte, which lies between mainland Africa and Madagascar, was already France’s poorest territory before the cyclone.

Chido – the worst storm to hit the archipelago in 90 years – leveled areas where people live in tin-roofed shacks and left fields of dirt and debris.

French authorities say at least 31 people have died, but the death toll is expected to be much higher with thousands still missing.

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

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

After visiting the Explore the region by helicopter to see the devastationHe said that Thursday was a day he would never forget.

During the visit he was was harassed and faced demands for his resignation from locals demanding more help in devastated areas.

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

Prime Minister François Bayrou said the Mayotte tragedy was probably the worst natural disaster in French history in recent centuries.

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