France has declared a day of mourning for the victims of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte

France is holding a day of national mourning after Cyclone Chido devastated its Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte earlier this month.

French President Emmanuel Macron led the tributes on Monday, observing a moment of silence for the victims of the storm.

He called for a nationwide commemoration during his visit to the island last week – where he was jeered by some islanders who criticized the slow delivery of aid.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people are feared dead when Chido made landfall off the southeast coast of Africa on December 14, bringing winds of up to 260 km/h (160 mph) and 250 mm of rain in the first 24 hours.

Speaking after the minute's silence, French Prime Minister Francois Bairro said it was “a symbol of our solidarity with all those who suffer”.

“This is a commitment to ensure that the national community is present, to restore Mayotte and to ensure that the people of Mayotte feel surrounded by the whole country,” he added.

Flags were flown at half-mast in solidarity in French cities including Paris, Marseille and Lyon.

The minute's silence was also observed in Mayotte, where more than a week after the storm, survivors struggle without water, communications and electricity as rescuers try to provide urgently needed aid.

Estelle Youssoufa, a French MP from Mayotte, told the BBC that 90% of the island, which lies between mainland Africa and Madagascar, had been destroyed.

“All public services are down,” she said.

“The sick cannot get help or go to the only hospital on the island, which is almost completely destroyed.

Mayotte prefect Francois-Xavier Beauville said a field hospital would start operating on Tuesday, capable of treating up to 100 people a day.

Mayotte was already France's poorest territory before the cyclone hit.

Chido – the worst storm to hit the archipelago in 90 years – leveled areas where people live in shacks with tin roofs and left fields of dirt and debris.

At least 31 people have been killed by French officials, but the death toll is expected to be much higher, with thousands still missing.

After Mayotte, the storm hit the African mainland, killing at least 94 people in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.

Macron promised to rebuild Mayotte's devastated infrastructure and homes after his visit.

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

During the visit he was subject to calls for his resignation from local residents who asked for more aid in the devastated areas.

Macron responded by telling locals: “I have nothing to do with the cyclone. You can blame me, but it wasn't me.”

Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said the Mayotte tragedy was perhaps the worst natural disaster in France's centuries-old history.

More than 100,000 people remain in Red Cross shelters after their homes were destroyed.