Cyclone Chido in Mayotte: the Barcarès Christmas Village shakes up its program to respect national mourning this Monday

France will observe a day of national mourning this Monday, December 23. This was the desire of the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, to reflect on the disaster experienced in the archipelago. The terrible Cyclone Chido claimed the lives of at least thirty people. The French authorities still fear a much heavier human toll.

To honor this national mourning, Emmanuel Macron announced on his social network X that a minute of silence must be respected throughout the country. “Our flags will be at half-mast. All French people will be invited to worship at 11 a.m.“, underlined the Head of State in his post, specifying to the press: “There will be a minute of silence in all public services and the population will be invited” to observe it.

This Monday, December 23, the Barcarès Christmas Village has decided to postpone its opening. One of the largest markets in France, located on the coast of the Pyrénées-Orientales, will open its doors not at 11 a.m. as traditionally but at 11:30 a.m.

The organizers of the Christmas Village also chose to pay tribute to the victims of the deadly car-ramming attack that occurred on Friday, December 20 at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany. After traveling nearly 400 meters in the aisles, the vehicle mowed down numerous people. The current toll shows 5 dead and some 200 injured, some of whom are in serious condition.