Mayotte Faces New Floods and Mudslides After Latest Storm

Mayotte, a struggling archipelago recently hard-hit by Cyclone Chido, faces further calamity as a new storm brings more heavy rains, leading to floods and mudslides.

Mayotte, the French territory in the Indian Ocean, has been plunged into chaos once again as the island grapples with severe weather conditions following a recent catastrophic cyclone. After experiencing flooding and mudslides triggered by heavy rains, the archipelago has been placed on the highest state of alert due to an incoming storm named Dikeledi.

Residents are still reeling from the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, which devastated the islands a month ago, leaving dozens dead and many infrastructures damaged. The latest storm made landfall in northern Madagascar on Saturday, resulting in the tragic death of at least three individuals. Videos circulating on social media depict substantial destruction, including downed power lines and flooded streets. Notably, the village of Mbouini, the only area untouched by Cyclone Chido, has now succumbed to the rising waters.

François-Xavier Bieuville, the prefect of Mayotte, informed French news channel BFMTV that the region was already witnessing “extremely heavy rains” leading to initial flooding and considerable mudslides across the territory. This ongoing meteorological conflict is expected to keep the islands under red alert until Monday evening, with further heavy rainfall anticipated even after the storm passes.

Current reports indicate that approximately 14,500 residents have sought refuge in various emergency shelters built to protect them from the impending dangers. As the storm, which is moving away from Mayotte, continues to evolve, it is expected to intensify into a tropical cyclone while nearing the coast of Mozambique.

Although the forecast does not foresee a direct landfall in Mozambique, the region is bracing for "very degraded conditions” as it also recovers from the disastrous impact of Cyclone Chido, which claimed the lives of at least 120 people in the country.

In discussing the overall situation in Mayotte, a territory known for high poverty levels, it is crucial to recognize that while the population is officially recorded at around 320,000, there is a significant number of undocumented migrants, estimated to be between 100,000 and 200,000, residing within its boundaries. Cyclone Chido, the worst storm to hit Mayotte in nearly a century, brought winds reaching up to 260 km/h (160 mph), wreaking havoc on makeshift homes constructed of metal roofs. Though initial reports suggested a devastating death toll in the hundreds, later revisions indicated that about 39 individuals lost their lives during the storm.