PARIS (AP) — France marked a national day of mourning Monday for the victims of Cyclone Chido, which devastated the French overseas department of Mayotte earlier this month. Flags flew at half-mast throughout the country and a minute’s silence was observed.
The cyclone, the most destructive to hit Mayotte in 90 years, caused extensive damage to the island, known as France’s poorest area, leaving 35 dead and around 2,500 injured. The actual toll is likely much higher due to widespread infrastructure destruction and precarious living conditions.
Chido also affected the southeastern part of the African continent.
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In Mozambique, the National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management (INGD) said on Sunday that 94 people had died.
“The people of Mayotte are in the hearts of all French people,” President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X. “The victims in our memories. The nation mourns.”
Macron and his wife Brigitte held a minute’s silence at the Elysée Palace in Paris.
Meanwhile, newly appointed Prime Minister François Bayrou joined the celebration at the Prime Minister’s residence in the French capital and said: “This minute’s silence signifies the need to rebuild Mayotte and ensure that the population feels supported by the nation as a whole.”
Bayrou, appointed prime minister ten days ago, is under pressure to announce his cabinet. The delay in forming a government has attracted widespread attention, with critics accusing the government of being distracted during a national crisis.
Mayotte MP Estelle Youssouffa accused the French government of neglecting the island.
“The prime minister appears to be considering announcing a reshuffle of his cabinet on a national day of mourning,” Youssouffa said on France Inter radio on Monday. “It’s disgraceful, contemptuous and very mediocre. Nobody cares about Mayotte – it’s terrible!”
The Elysee Palace stated that no announcements would be made before 6:00 PM local time to ensure the day of mourning would remain undisturbed.
This is the tenth time under the Fifth Republic of France that a national day of mourning has been declared, and the first time in response to a climate-related disaster. On previous occasions, former French presidents or victims of terrorist attacks were mainly mourned.
Cyclone Chido hit Mayotte on December 14, destroying homes, disrupting water and electricity supplies and cutting communications. Emergency services continue to make efforts to restore basic services, but the extent of the damage has made recovery efforts particularly challenging.
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Associated Press writer Charles Mangwiro in Maputo, Mozambique contributed to this report.
