French authorities have imposed curfew in Mayotte as they worked to stabilise the island territory following Cyclone Chido, the most powerful cyclone to lash the Indian Ocean archipelago in 90 years.
The French military said it will deploy four to five planes each day with up to 50 tons of help, including food, water, and medicine.
Since the weekend, hundreds of military men have arrived in Mayotte, a chain of islands off Africa.
The official death toll from Saturday’s cyclone has risen to 22, according to the most recent report from Mayotte Hospital, as stated by Mamoudzou Mayor Ambdilwahedou Soumaila.
Francois Bayrou, the newly appointed prime minister, offered an update later on Tuesday, stating that more than 1,500 people had been injured, with more than 200 gravely.
However, authorities fear hundreds and possibly thousands of people have died.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he will be traveling to Mayotte to comiserate with families affected by the devastation.
The curfew requires people to stay in their homes between 10pm and 4am as authorities try to prevent looting of damaged buildings.
Speaking on France Inter radio, Mayotte lawmaker Estelle Youssouffa described the challenges in accounting for victims, especially among migrants.
“The real toll of those swept away by the mud, winds and tin from shanty towns will never be known,” Ms Youssouffa said.
“This population, by definition undocumented migrants, are the main victims of this tragedy because they feared going to shelters.”
