Floods and mudslides have struck the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, one month after Cyclone Chido devastated the island, killing dozens and leaving many homeless. The archipelago was placed on high alert as a second storm, Dikeledi, passed by on Sunday morning, bringing violent winds, flash floods, and landslides.
The storm made landfall in northern Madagascar on Saturday, killing at least three people. It then passed approximately 100km south of Mayotte around 9am GMT on Sunday, bringing heavy rains that caused the first major floods and mudslides. The prefect of Mayotte warned that the island would remain under red alert until Monday evening due to ongoing heavy rain.
Over 14,500 people have taken refuge in emergency shelters set up by authorities to protect them from the storm. As of Sunday afternoon, the storm was moving away from Mayotte, but forecasters predict it will intensify into a tropical cyclone over the next 24 hours as it approaches the coast of Mozambique.
Mayotte is struggling to recover from Cyclone Chido, which killed 120 people in Mozambique and left many homeless. The island’s poor residents live in shanty towns with metal roofs, making them vulnerable to strong winds and heavy rains. The latest storm has highlighted the need for urgent assistance to those affected by the cyclones.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c05lg8dd6epo