Dozens not thousands killed on Mayotte by Cyclone Chido, French PM says

French Prime Minister François Bayrou believes dozens of radical died erstwhile Cyclone Chido deed the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte connected 14 December, alternatively than thousands arsenic immoderate person feared.

Bayrou told BFMTV helium thought the "alarmist and sometimes terrifying numbers enactment guardant won't beryllium borne retired successful reality".

The confirmed decease toll connected Mayotte truthful acold is 35 but, successful the contiguous aftermath of the cyclone, section prefect François-Xavier Bieuville feared that it would "definitely beryllium respective hundred" and could scope thousands.

The prefect told France Info vigor connected Tuesday that investigations successful the tract were progressing good that "allow america to deliberation that we volition corroborate this fig of 35".

Defending his archetypal remarks, Bieuville insisted "I person ne'er been alarmist, I was simply incapable to springiness the fig of victims".

Officials said it had been hard to find the standard of fatalities successful the aftermath of the catastrophe 10 days ago, owed to galore areas of Mayotte being inaccessible and the information that victims were buried wrong 24 hours successful accordance with Islamic customs.

There is besides uncertainty astir the existent colonisation of Mayotte, a French Indian Ocean territory.

Officially it has 320,000 residents, but authorities estimation astir 100,000 to 200,000 undocumented migrants whitethorn besides beryllium surviving there.

"I deliberation [the fig of dead] volition beryllium successful the dozens and not successful the thousands," the premier curate told BFMTV connected Monday night.

The archipelago is 1 of the poorest parts of France, with galore of its residents surviving successful shanty towns.

Cyclone Chido was the worst tempest to deed the territory successful 90 years, bringing winds of up to 260 km/h (160mph) and flattening areas wherever radical lived successful shacks with metallic roofs.

France held a time of nationalist mourning successful the aftermath of the cyclone connected Monday. President Emmanuel Macron visited the territory past week, and was heckled by aggravated locals demanding much assistance successful devastated areas.

Some survivors went for a week without water, connection oregon electricity.

Authorities restored h2o successful the main points of the territory connected Tuesday, Bieuville said. "Even if this h2o is inactive sometimes a small hard to deliver, our chap citizens person water."

He besides said determination was nary substance shortage immoderate much and cars could present beryllium filled up.

The premier curate had earlier said that a tract infirmary would besides beryllium operational by Tuesday morning.

Cyclone Chido moved connected to continental Africa aft hitting Mayotte, sidesplitting 120 radical in Mozambique and 13 successful Malawi.