France holds a day of mourning for the victims of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte

France observed a national day of mourning after Cyclone Chido devastated its Indian Ocean resort of Mayotte earlier this month.

French President Emmanuel Macron led Monday’s tributes by holding a minute’s silence for the victims of the storm.

He called for the nation to remember him when he visited the island last week – where he was mocked by some of the islanders who were criticizing the slow flow of aid.

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

Speaking after a moment of silence, French Prime Minister François Bayrou said it was “a sign of our solidarity with all those who suffer”.

“It is an obligation to ensure that the national community exists, to rebuild Mayotte and to ensure that the people of Mayotte feel surrounded by the rest of the country,” he added.

Flags have been flying high in solidarity in French cities including Paris, Marseille and Lyon.

A moment of peace was also observed in Mayotte, where more than a week after the storm, survivors are struggling without water, electricity connections, while rescuers are trying to provide emergency aid.

Estelle Youssouffa, a member of the French Parliament in Mayotte, told the BBC that 90% of the island, which is between the African continent and Madagascar, has been destroyed.

“All public services are down,” he said.

“Those who are sick cannot get help or go to the only hospital on the island, which has been almost completely destroyed.”

Mayotte chief François-Xavier Bieuville said the field hospital will start working on Tuesday, which will be able to treat up to 100 people a day.

Mayotte was already the poorest French state before the storm hit.

Chido – the worst typhoon to hit the archipelago in 90 years – flattened the area where people live in tin-roofed shacks and left fields of dirt and debris.

At least 31 people have been reported dead by French officials, but the death toll is expected to be much higher as thousands are still missing.

After Mayotte invaded the African continent, at least 94 people died in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.

Macron promised to rebuild Mayotte’s destroyed infrastructure and homes following his visit.

After visiting the Region in a helicopter to see the damagehe said Thursday is a day he will never forget.

During the visit he was there he faced calls for his resignation to local people who wanted more help in the devastated areas.

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

Prime Minister François Bayrou said the Mayotte disaster is probably the worst natural disaster in centuries of French history.

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