Mayotte on red alert as storm leaves tragic toll in Madagascar

A tropical storm, Dikeledi, has veered away from Mayotte after unleashing torrential rains and flash floods across northern Madagascar.

The storm struck Madagascar’s northern coast as a cyclone on Saturday evening before weakening into a severe tropical storm. By Sunday afternoon, Dikeledi had moved 160 kilometers south of Mayotte, according to Meteo-France.

At its closest, the storm passed 100 kilometers south of the French territory early Sunday, prompting officials to place Mayotte on red alert overnight. Residents faced intense rainfall and winds, heightening fears of further devastation.

In Madagascar, the storm left a grim toll. The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management reported three fatalities and over 900 people affected in Antsiranana province, which endured the brunt of the storm.

Mayotte residents, still reeling from Cyclone Chido in December, expressed mounting concern. “We’re very worried, given what happened the first time,” said Ali Ahmed, a resident of Mamoudzou, the archipelago’s main town.

Flooding hit Mbouini village and Pamandzi, with residents defying alerts to protect homes weakened by earlier storms. Gusts of up to 90 kilometers per hour lashed the southern parts of Mayotte on Sunday morning.

Authorities mobilized over 4,000 personnel, including police and military, to manage the crisis. Eighty shelters were prepared to accommodate 14,500 people, with the overseas territories ministry describing the situation as “calm.”

Meteorologists warn Dikeledi may regain cyclone strength as it intensifies and shifts southward in the coming days. Heavy rains are forecast for the Comoros, with Mozambique’s Nampula province likely to feel the storm’s impact by Monday.

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