France observes national day of mourning for victims of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte

France has held a national day of mourning for the victims of Cyclone Chido, which devastated the French overseas region of Mayotte earlier this month.

The cyclone was the most destructive to hit Mayotte in 90 years and caused extensive damage to the island off Africa’s east coast.

At least 35 deaths have been reported, with around 2,500 injured.

The actual toll is likely to be much higher due to the widespread destruction, precarious living conditions for a large migrant population and others and the Muslim practice of burying the dead within 24 hours.

Locals said many victims had stayed home, not believing the storm would be so severe.

Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, disrupting water and electricity supplies and severing communications. It also left thousands displaced. Many are struggling to rebuild.

Chido also hit south-eastern Africa. In Mozambique, the National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management said on Sunday that 94 people had been killed.

In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron stood for a minute’s silence at the Elysee Palace. He visited Mayotte days after the cyclone.

“The people of Mayotte are in the hearts of all French people,” Mr Macron wrote on X.

Mayotte politician Estelle Youssouffa accused the French government of neglecting the island, noting that newly appointed Prime Minister François Bayrou was under pressure to announce his cabinet.

“The prime minister seems to be considering the announcement of a reshuffling of his cabinet on a national day of mourning,” Ms Youssouffa said. “It’s disgraceful, contemptuous, and deeply mediocre. Nobody cares about Mayotte – it’s appalling.”

This is the first national day of mourning in response to a climate-related disaster since the Fifth Republic of France was established in the 1950s. Previous ones have been held mainly to mourn former French presidents or victims of terrorist attacks.