Authorities in the French overseas territory of Mayotte could still confirm only 31 deaths on Wednesday from Cyclone Chido, more than four days after it swept through the Indian Ocean archipelago, causing mayhem and killing possibly thousands.

The death toll from Cyclone Chido's rampage through the French overseas territory of Mayotte remained unclear on Wednesday, with shantytowns that were home to undocumented migrants flattened and many areas still inaccessible.

France faces a huge task in rescue operations on its overseas territory of Mayotte after the small group of islands in the Indian Ocean was struck by Cyclone Chido, acting Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau posted on X on Tuesday.