February 11, 2025

Mayotte Struggles with Flooding and Mudslides Following Second Storm Impact

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Mayotte hit by floods and mudslides from second storm

The French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean has once again been devastated by severe weather conditions, as heavy rainfall leads to flooding and mudslides across the region. This latest storm comes just one month after Cyclone Chido wreaked havoc on the islands, leaving dozens dead and causing widespread destruction.

On Sunday morning, Mayotte was placed under the highest alert level as another storm, named Dikeledi, passed close to the islands. Authorities warned the public about the risk of strong winds, flash flooding, and landslides. Social media footage showed downed power lines and several flooded areas. Reports from local television confirmed that Mbouini, a village in the southern part of the island that had previously been spared by Cyclone Chido, was now submerged in water.

The storm, Dikeledi, made landfall in northern Madagascar on Saturday, where it claimed the lives of at least three people. By 09:00 GMT on Sunday, Dikeledi had passed approximately 100 km (62 miles) south of Mayotte. François-Xavier Bieuville, the prefect of Mayotte, told French news channel BFMTV that the heavy rains were already causing floods and mudslides. “We’re seeing significant mudslides and floods across the region,” he explained, adding that the situation was expected to remain critical. Bieuville noted that the island would likely stay under red alert until at least Monday evening, as heavy rains were predicted to continue even after the storm had passed.

As the storm continued to batter the area, approximately 14,500 residents sought shelter in emergency facilities set up to protect them from the dangerous conditions, according to BFMTV. The storm began moving away from Mayotte by Sunday afternoon, but the impact of the storm was far from over. Météo-France has warned that the system could intensify into a tropical cyclone within 24 hours as it heads toward Mozambique. While the storm is not expected to make landfall in Mozambique, the Nampula region is expected to experience significantly degraded conditions due to the storm’s path.

Mozambique is still in the process of recovering from the destruction caused by Cyclone Chido, which killed at least 120 people in the country. Mayotte, one of the poorest regions of France, is home to many residents living in informal settlements. While the island officially has a population of around 320,000, it is estimated that between 100,000 and 200,000 undocumented migrants also reside in the area, further exacerbating the vulnerability of the community during such extreme weather events.

Cyclone Chido, which struck Mayotte on December 14, 2024, was the most destructive storm to hit the region in 90 years. The cyclone brought with it winds of up to 260 km/h (160 mph), causing extensive damage to homes, especially in areas where people lived in poorly constructed dwellings made of metal sheets. While initial reports suggested that several hundred people had been killed, the death toll was later revised to 39.

The ongoing storms in Mayotte have prompted local authorities to focus on providing immediate relief efforts while preparing for future weather-related challenges. The continued presence of severe weather events like Dikeledi underscores the vulnerability of Mayotte and other regions in the Indian Ocean to the growing threat of climate change. As the region braces for more extreme weather, the resilience of its population and infrastructure will be tested, and the need for effective disaster management strategies remains urgent.

Mayotte faces the ongoing threat of severe weather as it recovers from the aftermath of Cyclone Chido. The arrival of Dikeledi has intensified the challenges faced by the region, with widespread flooding and mudslides disrupting daily life. Local authorities are working tirelessly to provide relief, but the vulnerability of Mayotte’s residents, particularly those in informal settlements, highlights the need for more robust climate adaptation measures to mitigate the impact of such storms in the future.

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