PARIS (AP) 鈥� France marked a day of mourning Monday for victims of its poorest territory, Mayotte, over a week ago.
The cyclone was the most destructive to hit Mayotte in 90 years and caused off Africa's east coast. At least 35 deaths have been reported, with around 2,500 injured.
The actual toll is likely much higher due to the widespread destruction, precarious living conditions for a large migrant population and others and the Muslim practice of burying the dead within 24 hours.
Locals said many victims had stayed home, not believing the storm would be so severe.
In an informal neighborhood near Mayotte鈥檚 capital, Zaharia Youssouf sat in her damaged home, remembering her last conversation with her husband, Baco Houmadi. She had sought refuge in a shelter while Houmadi, who had heart problems, stayed behind with their son.
鈥淚 called him three times,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he first time I asked if he was OK. The second time he told me that he and our son had eaten. The third call, I said, 鈥楽weetie, can you cook for me, because there are bananas and fish at home?鈥� He said, 鈥業鈥檓 not cooking for you.鈥� After that, I couldn鈥檛 reach him.鈥�
Houmadi鈥檚 brother-in-law, Saandi Mbae, was with him when he died.
鈥淲e were under the table, and the tin was blowing, and we couldn鈥檛 go out,鈥� Mbae said. 鈥淎t the start, we were talking, but then we couldn鈥檛 continue because he had a problem breathing. I looked at him again, and he really couldn鈥檛 breathe. Then I realized it was over 鈥� that God would do what he would do.鈥�
Cyclone Chido , disrupting water and electricity supplies and severing communications. It also left thousands displaced. Many are struggling to rebuild.
鈥淎t least I had a man in the house. Even if he didn鈥檛 work, he brought something home," Youssouf said. "The house is broken, and if he was here, he could repair it.鈥�
Chido also hit southeastern Africa. In Mozambique, the National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management said Sunday that 94 people had been killed.
In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron stood for a minute of silence at the Elysee Palace. He visited Mayotte days after the cyclone.
鈥淭he people of Mayotte are in the hearts of all French people," Macron wrote on X.
Mayotte lawmaker Estelle Youssouffa accused the French government of neglecting the island, noting that newly appointed Prime Minister Fran莽ois Bayrou was under pressure to announce his cabinet.
鈥淭he prime minister seems to be considering the announcement of a reshuffling of his cabinet on a national day of mourning,鈥� Youssouffa said on France Inter radio. 鈥淚t鈥檚 disgraceful, contemptuous, and deeply mediocre. Nobody cares about Mayotte 鈥� it鈥檚 appalling!鈥�
This is the first national day of mourning in response to a climate-related disaster since the Fifth Republic of France was established in the 1950s. Previous ones have been mainly to mourn former French presidents or victims of terrorist attacks.
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Mednick reported from Mayotte. Associated Press writer Charles Mangwiro in Maputo, Mozambique contributed to this report.
Tom Nouvian And Sam Mednick, The Associated Press
