the state of the networks in Mayotte 19 days after the passage of Cyclone Chido

The long project to restore essential infrastructure continues in Mayotte, almost three weeks after the passage of Cyclone Chido. The Electricity De Mayotte teams continue to work with the numerous reinforcements received to try to restore the electricity network cable by cable.

Currently, six out of ten Mahorais have power according to the map published on January 1 by EDM. The situation, however, is quite mixed across the territory. The main difficulties are found in the north and center, particularly in the commune of Tsingoni. In several villages, such as Bandraboua, Hamouro, or Handrema, less than 5% of the population has electricity. This is also the case elsewhere, in Tsoundzou 1 or Sohoa for example, while the municipalities of Mamoudzou and Chirongui are generally replenished.

The director of EDM insists: “it's painstaking work” to repair and replace torn cables. Even on the scale of a street, some people may have power and their neighbors may be plunged into darkness.
In sectors where interventions are more complicated, 200 generators are expected, particularly to resupply essential infrastructure. Almost the entire network that was not buried was torn away by the cyclone. The objective is still to restore the entire network by the end of January, before consolidating it and bringing it up to standard.

Without electricity, it is impossible to power the telephone operators' antennas. The situation is similar: at Orange, SFR and Only, at least three quarters of their mobile networks have been restored. The areas benefiting from good coverage are concentrated in Petite-Terre and around Mamoudzou. In the center and the south, it is a little more variable. On the other hand, few or no network bars in the north.

SFR was able to partially restore its services to Longoni, Orange to Bandraboua. For Only, the network was also able to be restored on the west coast, with part of Mtsangamouji.

Operators point out: the quality of service depends on the number of calls and SMS sent, with risks of saturation, particularly these days with Happy New Year wishes. The State has also announced emergency measures: the arrival of 200 Starlink antennas to connect to the satellite network, to find the Internet. On the other hand, without further precision on when and where these services will be deployed.

We always alternate with opening periods two days out of three. Once between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m., the next day between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. By January 6, we will almost return to the production before Cyclone Chido: with 38,000 cubic meters of water per day. Which is already normally lower than the department's daily consumption, estimated at 46,000 cubic meters of water per day.

The problems lie not only in production, but also in distribution. The Mayotte Water Union and its delegate, the SMAE, tried to explain this to the Prime Minister during his visit to Mayotte on Monday, December 30. Some homes are unable to get water or for a very short time, because there is not enough pressure, particularly to raise the water to higher elevations. Leaks in the network do not help deliver water efficiently. In an emergency, tanks are installed. During the water crisis, between 15 to 20 tanks were deployed by the State, tanks which have since left. This question does not currently appear in the emergency plan announced by the government.