In brief
In less than a month, Mayotte is grappling with severe weather conditions once more as flooding and mudslides strike the island following a recent storm, compounding the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, which already wreaked havoc.
The French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte is experiencing severe flooding and mudslides caused by torrential rains from a new storm, just a month after Cyclone Chido devastated the region, resulting in numerous fatalities. Authorities have declared the highest state of alert as the archipelago braces for the impact of the storm named Dikeledi. Reports indicate violent winds, flash flooding, and landslides as menacing weather continues to unfold.Social media videos reveal downed power lines and flooded streets, with local news sources highlighting that the southern village of Mbouini, previously untouched by Cyclone Chido, is now submerged. On Saturday, Dikeledi made landfall in northern Madagascar, claiming at least three lives. Météo-France reported that the storm passed about 100 km (62 miles) south of Mayotte around 09:00 GMT, prompting urgent warnings from local officials.François-Xavier Bieuville, Mayotte's prefect, informed French news channel BFMTV about "extremely heavy rains beginning to trickle down," which are contributing to the onset of floods and significant mudslides. The prefect anticipates the island will remain on red alert through Monday evening, as heavy rain is expected even after the storm's passage.The situation has prompted more than 14,500 residents to seek refuge in emergency shelters. As of Sunday afternoon, Météo-France noted that the storm is moving away from Mayotte, yet forecasts indicate it may intensify to tropical cyclone status while moving towards Mozambique's coast. Although current predictions suggest it will not make landfall in Mozambique, the Nampula region is still likely to face harsh conditions.Mayotte, regarded as one of the poorest regions of France, is home to around 320,000 official residents, though estimates suggest an additional 100,000 to 200,000 undocumented migrants could be in the territory. Cyclone Chido, which struck on December 14 and was recorded as the worst storm in 90 years, brought destructive winds up to 260 km/h (160 mph), obliterating communities and leading to initial reports of hundreds being killed, later adjusted to a confirmed death toll of 39.
