Paris, Dec 19 (NationPress) The confirmed death toll from Cyclone Chido in France's Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte has unfortunately increased to 31, with roughly 1,400 individuals injured, as reported by the French Interior Ministry.

A declaration of exceptional natural disaster was issued in the overseas department late Wednesday night. French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Mayotte on Thursday amid concerns that the death toll in this impoverished French department could rise further in the upcoming days.

In a statement released late Wednesday, the caretaker Minister for Overseas, Francois-Noel Buffet, announced the activation of the exceptional natural disaster status in Mayotte to enable quicker and more effective crisis management and to implement emergency measures.

"In light of this extraordinary situation, extraordinary resources must be mobilized to swiftly restore essential services and develop a sustainable reconstruction plan for Mayotte," he remarked.

He emphasized that this declaration allows for a more rapid and effective response from both local and national authorities while simplifying certain administrative procedures for expedited action in Mayotte, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.

On Tuesday, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) raised alarms regarding over 200 of its volunteers who are feared missing after the cyclone devastated the islands.

Mayotte, located in the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean, is an overseas department and region of France. It is positioned off the southeastern coast of Africa, nestled between northwestern Madagascar and northeastern Mozambique.

Cyclone Chido originated as a tropical depression in the southeastern Indian Ocean basin around December 7 and 8.

Cyclone Chido started as a tropical depression, characterized by a low-pressure area over the ocean, accompanied by a circular wind pattern created by thunderstorms. Such systems display maximum sustained wind speeds of 61 km/h or less.

If a tropical depression strengthens, it can develop into a tropical storm, which is defined by wind speeds ranging from 62 km/h to 119 km/h. Winds exceeding this range classify the system as a tropical cyclone.

The terminology surrounding these systems can be somewhat perplexing. In the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and northeastern Pacific Ocean, tropical cyclones are referred to as hurricanes. Conversely, in the western Pacific Ocean, they are termed typhoons, while in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the term cyclone is utilized.