French authorities have raised the death toll in Mayotte to 39, around 10 days after the islands were hit by a devastating cyclone.
Authorities said thousands of people may have died when Storm Chido hit the islands, a French overseas region off the east African coast.
According to rescuers, efforts to count the death toll are hampered as many family members are burying their loved ones before reporting to authorities. This is mostly due to religious customs, and the fact that many of the deceased may have been undocumented migrants.
The slowness of aid and delays in the arrival of drinking water – a focal point even before the disaster – infuriated residents of Mayotte, France’s poorest territory located between Madagascar and Mozambique.
Mohamed Abdou, a doctor from Pamandzi, called France’s national day of mourning a “political coup” amid reports of historic neglect surrounding infrastructure, electricity and aid distribution, while other residents insulted President Emmanuel Macron during his visit last week.
Mozambique said 94 people died when the storm hit the African continent, while neighboring Malawi reported 13 deaths.
This content was originally published in French authorities raise death toll in Mayotte to 39 after cyclone on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
