The state of emergency declared for Mayotte is designed for France’s overseas territories to allow administrative barriers to be overcome in order to deal with the crisis more quickly and effectively.

It has been activated for one month, but can be extended by periods of two months if required.

“Faced with this exceptional situation, exceptional resources must be deployed to quickly restore vital services and implement a sustainable reconstruction plan for Mayotte,” said the minister responsible for overseas territories, François-Noël Buffet.

Emergency services have been delivering food and water and clearing roads, while also racing to find the missing.

Health workers are concerned infectious diseases could spread, as residents have reported clean drinking water shortages and shops are rationing supplies.

The authorities have said their priority is to get damaged water plants back up and running.

Half the territory remains without power. A newly imposed curfew requires people to stay in their homes for six hours overnight to prevent the possibility of looting.

Chido – the worst storm to hit the archipelago in 90 years – brought wind speeds of more than 225km/h (140mph) on Saturday, flattening areas where many live in informal structures with sheet metal roofs and leaving fields of dirt and debris.

After Mayotte, the storm hit the African mainland, killing at least 45 people in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.