The head of state will decree a “national mourning“after the devastating passage of Cyclone Chido on Mayotte.”This evening, during the meeting of the interministerial crisis unit, I ensured that all emergency measures to come to the aid of the inhabitants of Mayotte were taken and that the continuity of the State could be assured“, wrote Emmanuel Macron on his X account this Monday evening.
The Head of State announces that he will visit the archipelago “in the coming days in support of our fellow citizens, civil servants and mobilized relief forces“. It indicates that it is “to deal with emergencies and start preparing for the future“. “Faced with this tragedy which upsets each of us, I will declare national mourning“, concludes the President of the Republic.
A balance sheet always very complicated to establish
During a press point held Monday evening from Reunion Island after a visit to Mayotte, Bruno Retailleau, Minister of the Interior declared that “the island is totally devastated“. “A mission was decided by the interministerial crisis unit” pour “start taking a census“human losses”once the roads have been cleared“. “But I will be unable to project myself to give you any figures“, he adds.
He nevertheless announced that “21 people died in hospital” et “45 people are in absolute emergency“. Mayotte hospital, “gradually resumes its activities“, he said. The roof of the building was “very damaged“, details the resigning Minister of the Interior: “As soon as it rains, it rains in certain services“. Therefore, services “had to be temporarily arrested“, like that of resuscitation recalls Bruno Retailleau who indicates that activities are now slowly resuming: “There is between 40% and 45% activity which is gradually resuming“.
The Mamoudzou hospital will also be “reinforced this Thursday by a field hospital“, specifies Bruno Retailleau who greets “the exceptional commitment of all medical staff“.
Water desalination plant restarted
“As I speak to you, the desalination plant has been restarted in Petite-Terre. Within 48 hours, these drinking water treatment plants will operate at 50% of their capacity“, indicates Bruno Retailleau. “The prefect of Mayotte told us this Monday evening that within a week, we could even reach 95%“, adds the resigning Minister of the Interior.
Bruno Retailleau recalls that “even before this crisis, we always had water stress, a supply problem“, referring to the water crisis occurring in 2023. Faced with this, the Minister of the Interior indicates that “the decision was made to retain the A400M“, an aircraft with a large storage capacity of “around twenty tons” and “every day, starting tomorrow, to carry bottles of water and food”.
“50% of the population will have access to electricity at the beginning of next week”
Electricity “is recovering“, indicates the Ministry of the Interior. On site, “thehigh voltage is capable of operating“, specifies the ministry which indicates that there is currently a “working on low voltage“. “50% of the population will have access to electricity at the start of next week thanks to a cargo ship which will arrive Thursday with equipment“, adds the ministry. As for telecommunications, the mobile telephone network is unavailable at “80%“, details the ministry in its situation update.
