France mourns the victims of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte

France is declaring a day of national mourning after Cyclone Chida devastated its Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte earlier this month.

French President Emmanuel Macron called for a nationwide commemoration during his visit to the island last week – where he was jeered by some islanders who criticized the slow delivery of aid.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people are feared dead when Chida made landfall off the southeast coast of Africa on December 14, packing winds of up to 260 km/h (160 mph) and 250 mm of rain in the first 24 hours.

People across France will pay their respects and flags will fly at half-mast in solidarity in cities such as Paris, Marseille and Lyon.

More than a week after the storm, survivors struggle without water, communications or electricity as rescuers scramble to provide urgently needed aid.

Mayotte, which lies between the African mainland and Madagascar, was already France’s poorest territory before the cyclone hit.

Chida is the worst storm to hit the archipelago in 90 years, leveling areas where people live in sheet metal-roofed shacks and abandoned fields of dirt and garbage.

French officials say at least 31 people have died, but the death toll is expected to be much higher, with thousands still missing.

After Mayotte, the storm hit the African mainland, at least 94 people died in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.

After the visit, Macron promised to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure and houses on the island.

After bypassing St area by helicopter to see the destructionhe said Thursday was a day he’ll never forget.

During the visit was cursed and faced calls to resign from local residents who demanded additional assistance in the devastated areas.

Macron responded by telling locals: “I had nothing to do with the cyclone. You can blame me, but it wasn’t me.’

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said that the Mayotte tragedy is probably the worst natural disaster in recent centuries in the history of France.

More than 100,000 people remain in Red Cross shelters after their homes were destroyed.