Emmanuel Macron scoffed during his visit to Mayotte

French President Emmanuel Macron came under fire during his visit to cyclone-hit Mayotte.

After facing boos and calls for his resignation from locals demanding more aid in the devastated areas, Macron responded by telling locals: “I am not the cyclone. I am not responsible.”

It arrived in the French Indian Ocean territory on Thursday, five days after Cyclone Chido passed through the small islands. Thousands are without access to water and rescuers continue their efforts to find the missing people.

Macron told reporters he had extended his visit to Friday as a sign of respect and that leaving on the same day might have “installed the idea that we come, explore and leave”.

Macron will visit more neighborhoods on Friday. He said the government would soon send more support to the territory, adding that France would declare a day of national mourning on Monday.

At least 31 people have been killed by French officials, but the death toll is expected to be much higher, with thousands still missing. Much of the archipelago is also still without power.

Authorities say food and water supplies are a top priority. Macron said he brought four tons of food and a health load with him on his visit.

After a helicopter tour of the region to see the devastationhe said Thursday was a day he would never forget.

The president promised to rebuild the devastated infrastructure and homes on the islands.

People shouted “Macron resign”, “you are talking nonsense” and “water, water, water” as he inspected the damaged areas.

During his visit to the Mamoudzu hospital centre, the AFP news agency reported that a woman told Macron: “No one feels safe here… people are fighting over water.”

“Your services are overwhelmed,” one person at Macron's hospital said, according to Reuters. “Help hasn't reached where I live.”

But others said they were grateful for Macron's visit and urged him to stay longer.

The territory to the north of Madagascar is the poorest part of France. It suffers from major social and economic problems, including high levels of illegal immigration from neighboring Comoros and poor quality of housing and public services.

Migrants are believed to have been among the worst affected by the cyclone.

A state of extreme natural disaster has been declared, which allows administrative barriers to be overcome to deal with the crisis more quickly and effectively.

It is activated for one month, but can be extended for periods of two months if necessary.

Chido – the worst storm to hit the archipelago in 90 years – brought wind speeds of more than 225 km/h (140 mph) on Saturday, flattening areas where people live in tin-roofed shacks and leaving fields of dirt and debris .

After Mayotte, the storm hit mainland Africa, killing at least 45 people in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.