The French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte is under siege yet again as Storm Dikeledi brings heavy rains, mudslides, and floods just one month after the catastrophic impact of Cyclone Chido. The national weather service, Météo-France, issued warnings for violent winds and anticipated flash floods, prompting authorities to place the region on the highest alert level.
As the storm approached from Madagascar, local residents snapped videos of downed power lines and rising waters in various neighborhoods. Tragically, the southern village of Mbouini, which was previously untouched by Cyclone Chido, has now succumbed to flooding.
On the day Storm Dikeledi made landfall, three fatalities were reported. The situation remains dire as officials warn that heavy rains may persist even after the storm passes. François-Xavier Bieuville, the prefect of Mayotte, stated that significant mudslides were affecting parts of the island and that the red alert might last until Monday evening.
As many as 14,500 residents have been displaced, taking refuge in emergency shelters set up by local authorities. As of Sunday afternoon, the storm was moving away from Mayotte, but forecasts indicate that it could intensify before potentially affecting Mozambique, which has its own recovery efforts underway following the devastation from Cyclone Chido.
Cyclone Chido, which struck on December 14, became the worst storm to hit Mayotte in nearly a century, with initial reports suggesting a higher death toll that was later corrected to 39. The economic disadvantages faced by the region are underscored by the presence of many undocumented migrants living alongside the official population of approximately 320,000 people in often precarious conditions.
