France holds day of mourning for Mayotte cyclone dead

France is to clasp a time of nationalist mourning aft Cyclone Chido devastated its Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte earlier this month.

French President Emmanuel Macron called for the nationwide remembrance during his sojourn to the land past week - wherever helium was jeered by immoderate islanders who criticised the dilatory transportation of aid.

It is feared hundreds, perchance thousands, of radical died erstwhile Chido made landfall disconnected Africa's south-east seashore connected 14 December bringing winds of up to 260 km/h (160mph) and 250mm of rainfall successful the archetypal 24 hours.

People crossed France volition wage tribute and flags volition beryllium flown astatine half-mast successful a amusement of solidarity astatine cities including Paris, Marseille and Lyon.

More than a week connected from the tempest survivors are struggling without water, connection and energy portion rescuers effort to supply urgently needed assistance.

Mayotte, which lies betwixt the African mainland and Madagascar, was already France's astir impoverished territory earlier the cyclone struck.

Chido - the worst tempest to deed the archipelago successful 90 years - flattened areas wherever radical unrecorded successful shacks with expanse metallic roofs and near fields of ungraded and debris.

At slightest 31 radical are reported by French officials to person died, but the decease toll is expected to beryllium overmuch higher with thousands inactive missing.

After Mayotte the tempest deed the African mainland, killing astatine slightest 94 radical successful Mozambique and 13 successful Malawi.

Macron pledged to rebuild the island's devastated infrastructure and homes pursuing his visit.

After touring the region successful a chopper to spot the devastation, helium said that Thursday was a time helium would ne'er forget.

During the sojourn helium was heckled and faced calls to resign from locals who demanded much assistance successful devastated areas.

Macron responded by telling locals: "I had thing to bash with the cyclone. You tin blasted me, but it wasn't me."

Prime Minister François Bayrou said the calamity of Mayotte is astir apt the worst earthy catastrophe successful the past centuries successful French history.

More than 100,000 radical stay successful Red Cross shelters aft their homes were destroyed.