A minute of silence was observed on Monday at the Elysee Palace in Paris, where the French flag flew at half-mast after President Macron declared a national day of mourning for those lost in Cyclone Chido’s devastation of Mayotte.
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00:00France held a day of national mourning for the victims of Cyclone Chido that devastated
00:07the island of Mayotte. French President Emmanuel Macron held a minute of silence at the Elysée
00:13Palace in Paris and France's Prime Minister François Bayrou did the same in Matignon.
00:18It is a very moving minute of silence. It has the meaning of a communion in mourning.
00:27It has the meaning of solidarity for all those who are in the trial. It has the meaning of
00:34a commitment for the national community to be present to rebuild Mayotte and to make
00:43sure that the Maoris feel surrounded by a whole country.
00:51French troops and firefighters carried out search and rescue efforts for victims. 35
00:57people have been confirmed dead but this number is expected to be much higher. Hospitals are
01:04overwhelmed and medics are seen tending to victims on the streets, cleaning wounds and
01:09managing injuries. Doctors have warned that epidemics like cholera may break out due to
01:14lack of clean water and electricity. Meanwhile, efforts to deliver emergency aid including
01:21airlifts of water and food are underway but the scale of the need is staggering.