Macron inspected the situation on the French island group, located northwest of Madagascar on Thursday. His plan included around 20 doctors, nurses, and other personnel, as well as four tons of food and medical supplies.
During his visit, Macron declared "a national day of mourning on Monday for Mayotte and its affected population.
"Mahorais, we stand together", Macron wrote on X.
Mahorais is a term for a person from Mayotte.
Unknown death toll
Macron traveled with a small delegation to minimize the need for police resources, which are needed more elsewhere on the island group.
Authorities warn that the death toll from the destructive cyclone, which hit Mayotte hard over the weekend, could reach hundreds – possibly thousands.
The tragedy in Mayotte is probably the worst natural disaster in French history over the past centuries, says Prime Minister François Bayrou.
A frantic search is ongoing to find survivors in the ruins of the shantytowns where a third of the island group's population lived – and which were leveled by the cyclone.
France has now declared a state of "exceptional natural disaster" in the island group, an emergency declaration that is specific to French territories and has never been used before.
"In the face of this extraordinary situation, extraordinary means must be taken to quickly restore essential services and implement a sustainable reconstruction plan for Mayotte", says François-Noël Buffet, Minister for Overseas Territories.
Can be extended
The measures, which initially apply for a month but can be extended by two months at a time, will facilitate faster and more effective crisis management.
According to Buffet, the measures make it possible for the French authorities, both national and local in Mayotte, to respond more quickly while "streamlining certain administrative procedures".
According to preliminary figures from France's Interior Ministry, 31 people have been confirmed dead, with 45 seriously injured and 1,373 lightly injured. However, authorities warn that the numbers could rise dramatically.
