Heavy rains from Storm Dikeledi lead to urgent evacuations and heightened state of alert across the island.
Mayotte Faces New Flooding Crisis as Storm Dikeledi Strikes
Mayotte Faces New Flooding Crisis as Storm Dikeledi Strikes
Following Cyclone Chido's devastation, Mayotte grapples with fresh storms and significant flooding risks.
Mayotte, the French island territory in the Indian Ocean, is battling yet another deluge as Storm Dikeledi brings heavy rainfall and mudslides, just one month after the catastrophic impact of Cyclone Chido. The archipelago has been placed on the highest alert following the storm's passage, which occurred on Sunday morning, inciting fears of further flooding and dangerous mudslides.
Local authorities have expressed concerns, recalling the tragic aftermath of Cyclone Chido that claimed numerous lives and left widespread destruction across the islands. As reports of downed power lines and flooded areas emerge on social media, a local news report indicates that the previously unscathed village of Mbouini is now submerged under water.
Having made landfall in northern Madagascar on Saturday, Dikeledi has so far led to the deaths of at least three individuals. Weather forecasts from Météo-France detail the intensifying storm, which passed about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Mayotte early Sunday, causing "extremely heavy rains" that have begun triggering floods and "relatively significant mudslides," according to François-Xavier Bieuville, Mayotte's prefect.
Authorities anticipate that the island will remain under red alert until at least Monday evening, as sustained rainfall is expected even after the storm moves away. Reports indicate that over 14,500 residents have sought refuge in emergency shelters as a precaution against the storm's destructive potential.
Meteorologists are closely monitoring the storm's trajectory, which is forecasted to intensify over the next day and potentially evolve into a tropical cyclone as it approaches Mozambique's coast. While a direct landfall in Mozambique may be unlikely, adverse weather conditions are still anticipated in the Nampula region, which is currently recuperating from the devastating effects of Cyclone Chido.
Despite Mayotte being one of France's impoverished territories, it is home to an estimated population of 320,000 residents, with authorities suggesting that as many as 100,000 to 200,000 undocumented migrants may also reside there. Cyclone Chido was recorded as the worst storm to hit Mayotte in nearly a century, with initial death tolls soaring before being adjusted to a tragic final count of 39 fatalities.
Local authorities have expressed concerns, recalling the tragic aftermath of Cyclone Chido that claimed numerous lives and left widespread destruction across the islands. As reports of downed power lines and flooded areas emerge on social media, a local news report indicates that the previously unscathed village of Mbouini is now submerged under water.
Having made landfall in northern Madagascar on Saturday, Dikeledi has so far led to the deaths of at least three individuals. Weather forecasts from Météo-France detail the intensifying storm, which passed about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Mayotte early Sunday, causing "extremely heavy rains" that have begun triggering floods and "relatively significant mudslides," according to François-Xavier Bieuville, Mayotte's prefect.
Authorities anticipate that the island will remain under red alert until at least Monday evening, as sustained rainfall is expected even after the storm moves away. Reports indicate that over 14,500 residents have sought refuge in emergency shelters as a precaution against the storm's destructive potential.
Meteorologists are closely monitoring the storm's trajectory, which is forecasted to intensify over the next day and potentially evolve into a tropical cyclone as it approaches Mozambique's coast. While a direct landfall in Mozambique may be unlikely, adverse weather conditions are still anticipated in the Nampula region, which is currently recuperating from the devastating effects of Cyclone Chido.
Despite Mayotte being one of France's impoverished territories, it is home to an estimated population of 320,000 residents, with authorities suggesting that as many as 100,000 to 200,000 undocumented migrants may also reside there. Cyclone Chido was recorded as the worst storm to hit Mayotte in nearly a century, with initial death tolls soaring before being adjusted to a tragic final count of 39 fatalities.
