Mayotte was already struggling with overcrowding, illness and poverty before a devastating cyclone hit the French island territory at the weekend. Now the aftermath of Cyclone Chido has led to accusations that Paris has neglected its far-flung overseas territories,

Reports of widespread damage are emerging from Mayotte after a 100-year cyclone ripped across the French archipelago Saturday, inflicting devastation that one resident likened to an atomic bomb, with hundreds and possibly even thousands of feared victims.

The death toll in the French territory of Mayotte from Cyclone Chido is “several hundred” and may run into the thousands.