Mayotte Faces New Crisis as Floods and Mudslides Follow Storm Dikeledi

Mayotte is under high alert after heavy rains from Storm Dikeledi triggered floods and mudslides just a month after Cyclone Chido's destruction. With emergency shelters accommodating over 14,500 residents, the island prepares for ongoing weather challenges.

Mayotte, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, is once again in a state of emergency as heavy rains from Storm Dikeledi have caused significant flooding and mudslides. This disaster follows last month’s devastation wrought by Cyclone Chido, which claimed dozens of lives and left many areas severely damaged.

As the storm approached on Sunday morning, authorities escalated the region's alert status to its highest level, anticipating violent winds, flash floods, and landslides. Reports from local TV channels indicated widespread destruction, particularly in the southern village of Mbouini, the only area previously untouched by Cyclone Chido, now submerged under water.

Storm Dikeledi made landfall in northern Madagascar on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals. The storm passed roughly 100 km south of Mayotte shortly after 09:00 GMT, with weather forecasts from Météo-France indicating the onset of extremely heavy rainfall. “We are already witnessing initial flooding and notable mudslides,” stated François-Xavier Bieuville, the prefect of Mayotte, in an interview with French news channel BFMTV.

Authorities remain cautious, predicting continued rainfall even after Dikeledi has moved on, and they anticipate keeping the island on red alert until Monday evening. Emergency shelters have been set up, housing around 14,500 evacuees who have been displaced due to the hazardous conditions.

As the storm system heads away from Mayotte, it is expected to grow in intensity and possibly evolve into a tropical cyclone while nearing Mozambique’s coastline. Although the current forecast does not indicate landfall in Mozambique, the Nampula region still braces for severe weather.

This ongoing crisis has been compounded by the recent history of Cyclone Chido, which struck Mayotte with unprecedented ferocity on December 14, 2022. It was recorded as the worst storm to hit the area in 90 years, bringing winds up to 260 km/h (160 mph) and devastating homes, particularly in shantytowns where many residents live in makeshift shelters.

Initially, reports suggested hundreds might have perished in the cyclone, though the final death toll was later revised to 39. The cyclone had a comparable impact on Mozambique, where it caused the deaths of 120 people, adding to the burdens faced by countries in this vulnerable region struggling to cope with severe weather events.