Authorities in the French overseas territory of Mayotte could still confirm only 31 deaths on Wednesday from Cyclone Chido, more than four days after it swept through the Indian Ocean archipelago, causing mayhem and killing possibly thousands.

The death toll from Cyclone Chido's rampage through the French overseas territory of Mayotte remained unclear on Wednesday, with shantytowns that were home to undocumented migrants flattened and many areas still inaccessible.