Mayotte, a French department in the Indian Ocean, is bracing for Cyclone Dikeledi, which is expected to pass just 75 kilometers south of the archipelago. Officials fear the storm’s impact on an island still reeling from the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido less than a month ago.
Overseas Territories Minister Manuel Valls announced that the current orange alert would be elevated to a red alert by Saturday evening as weather conditions worsen. Following an emergency cabinet meeting in Paris, the Interior Ministry confirmed the heightened preparedness measures.
According to Météo France, Cyclone Dikeledi is forecasted to cross Madagascar and approach Mayotte as a strong tropical storm by Sunday. 
Average wind speeds of 50-60 km/h are anticipated, with gusts reaching 120 km/h, particularly in the south of the island. Coastal areas on the west and south face risks of flooding, prompting the suspension of ferry services.
The storm adds to the challenges Mayotte has been grappling with since Cyclone Chido—the most destructive storm to hit the island in 90 years—claimed 39 lives, left over 5,000 injured, and displaced thousands.
Emergency shelters, including schools and gymnasiums, are being reopened to accommodate residents, as they did during Chido, when approximately 15,000 people sought refuge.
Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville cautioned that mudslides are a significant risk due to the heavy rains expected from Dikeledi.
“This tropical storm is a wet event, and we are going to have a lot of rain,” he said. Unlike Chido, which brought minimal rainfall, the incoming cyclone could exacerbate the damage in vulnerable areas like shanty towns around Mamoudzou.
Mayotte, officially home to 320,000 people, also houses an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 undocumented residents, many of whom lost their homes to Cyclone Chido.
Authorities have urged residents to seek shelter, stock up on essentials, and remain vigilant as the storm approaches.
Read More:
