Officials in the French island territory of Mayotte on Monday feared that hundreds could be dead as survivors emerged from the devastation of Cyclone Chido, which ripped through the region with Cat. 4 winds.

After the storm raged through the islands on December 14, officials say it will take days to fully comprehend the extent of the tragedy.

Emergency workers searched for survivors on Monday and battled to restore services in Mayotte, France's poorest overseas territory, where hundreds, or even thousands, are feared dead from the worst cyclone to hit the Indian Ocean islands in nearly a century.