Emmanuel Macron heckled during his visit to Mayotte

French President Emmanuel Macron was harassed during his visit to cyclone-hit Mayotte.

After facing boos and calls for his resignation from locals demanding more aid in the devastated areas, Macron responded by telling locals: “I am not the cyclone. I’m not responsible.”

It reached French Indian Ocean territory on Thursday, five days after Cyclone Chido hit the small islands. Thousands have no access to water and rescuers continue to struggle to find missing people.

Macron told reporters he had extended his visit until Friday as a mark of respect and that leaving the same day may have “established the idea that we come, we look, we go.”

Macron will visit other parts of the city on Friday. He said the government would soon send more support to the territory, adding that France would mark a national day of mourning on Monday.

French authorities say at least 31 people have died, but the death toll is expected to be much higher with thousands still missing. A large part of the archipelago is still without electricity.

Officials say providing food and water is a top priority. Macron said he brought four tons of food and health cargo with him during his visit.

After touring the region in a helicopter, check it out the devastationHe said Thursday was a day he would never forget.

The president promised to rebuild the islands’ destroyed infrastructure and homes.

People chanted “Macron resign,” “You are talking nonsense” and “Water, water, water” as he inspected the damaged areas.

During his visit to Mamoudzou Hospital, AFP news agency said a woman told Macron: “Nobody feels safe here… people are fighting over water.”

“Your services are overwhelmed,” a man in the hospital told Macron, according to Reuters. “The help hasn’t arrived where I live.”

But others said they were grateful for Macron’s visit and urged him to stay longer.

The area north of Madagascar is the poorest part of France. It suffers from extensive social and economic problems, including high rates of illegal immigration from neighboring Comoros, as well as poor housing quality and poor public services.

Migrants are believed to have been among the worst affected by the cyclone.

A state of emergency for a natural disaster has been declared, allowing administrative hurdles to be overcome to address the crisis more quickly and effectively.

Activation is for one month, but can be extended by two months if necessary.

Chido – the worst storm to hit the archipelago in 90 years – brought winds of more than 225 km/h (140 miles per hour) on Saturday, flattening areas where people live in tin-roofed shacks and Fields of dirt and rubble remained.

After Mayotte, the storm hit mainland Africa, killing at least 45 people in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.