Mayotte placed on red alert since 10 p.m., as cyclone Dikeledi approaches

Less than a month after the devastating passage of Cyclone Chido, Mayotte is placed, Saturday January 11, on red cyclone alert, from 10 p.m. (8 p.m. in Paris), in anticipation of the passage of tropical storm Dikeledi off the coast of south of this archipelago in the Indian Ocean. “I have decided to bring forward this red alert to allow everyone to take shelter, to confine themselves well, to take care of people close to them. [soi]of [ses] children, of [sa famille]vulnerable people, grandparents, mothers who are isolated, to ensure that everyone can be protected in this upcoming period”announced the prefect François-Xavier Bieuville, interviewed on the Mayotte channel 1^re.

“The population must be confined in a solid dwelling, with a stock of water and food available to survive the cyclone”specified the prefecture. “All circulation outside places of confinement” East “prohibited”except for emergency services and authorized persons, until further notice.

Cyclone Dikeledi was located on Saturday at 9:19 p.m. local time, 460 kilometers east of Mayotte, an overseas department of 320,000 inhabitants. After reaching the northeast coast of Madagascar on Saturday around 4:30 p.m. GTM (5:30 p.m. in Paris), the cyclone began to weaken and was downgraded to the stage of a strong tropical storm, according to Météo-France. Dikeledi should, however, gradually regain strength when it leaves the lands of Madagascar.

Heavy rain, strong winds and risk of mudslides

Mayotte was placed on orange alert at the start of the morning. Barge traffic (local ferries) has been stopped and the international airport has closed its doors until further notice. Some 645 civil security personnel were notably pre-positioned and in total, “more than 4,000 personnel are mobilized, including 1,500 to reinforce civil security, the police, the gendarmerie and the army”according to the Ministry of the Interior.

“Nothing is left to chance regarding the arrival of this cyclone”assured the Overseas Minister, Manuel Valls, to Agence France-Presse. He mentioned “heavy and continuous rain” and winds of up to 110 km/h. “However, like the north”, already strongly impacted by Chido, “is more mountainous and there are risks of sinking and submersion, we are also very attentive” to this part of the island, he added. Messages in French, Shimaoré and Kibushi (regional languages) were broadcast on radio and television to alert the population. “The religious relay was used with Friday prayers”as well as social networks, notably Facebook, said Mr. Valls.

In its latest bulletin, Météo-France forecasts “a significant rainy and windy deterioration” capable of generating “flash floods, floods and landslides”. “Gusts of up to 80 to 90 km/h, or locally 100-110 km/h, are likely, particularly on the southern part of the island”warns the meteorological organization. Any mudslides constitute “significant risks”underlined the prefect: “Chido was a dry cyclone, we had very little rain. This tropical storm is a wet event, we are going to have a lot of rain (…) on already weakened ground. »

Any mudslides constitute “significant risks”further clarified the prefect. “Chido was a dry cyclone, we had very little rain. This tropical storm is a wet event, we’re going to have a lot of rain, we have estimates of 150, 200 millimeters, which (…)on already weakened ground (…) by Chido, risks leading to events of this nature. »

Nearly 80 reception areas

The entry into force of this orange alert comes less than a month after the passage of Cyclone Chido, the most devastating to hit the small archipelago in the Indian Ocean in ninety years. The prefect asked mayors to reopen accommodation centers (schools, municipal facilities, gymnasiums, etc.) which had been able to accommodate some “15,000 people” during the Chido cyclonic episode.

The prefect notably declared that “all mosques” of the archipelago were going to be opened to serve as reception areas. In total, 79 places are ready to welcome people in need of shelter. He also asked “positioning of forces, particularly firefighters” in “extremely fragile areas of shanty towns in Mamoudzou, Koungou [côte nord de Grande-Terre]on Petite-Terre in La Vigie ».

Images broadcast on Mayotte La 1^re showed motorists filling up with fuel at service stations or families refueling in stores to buy packs of water in particular.

However, forecasters anticipate a weakening of Dikeledi during the night from Saturday to Sunday “at the stage of a severe tropical storm, before [qu’il ne] CIRCUS[e] off the south of Mayotte during the day on Sunday ». After passing through the Mozambique Channel, Dikeledi is expected to pass around 100 kilometers south of Mayotte on Sunday, before being classified as a tropical cyclone again during the day on Monday.

Chido caused colossal damage in the poorest department in France. The passage of this intense tropical cyclone left at least 39 dead and more than 5,600 injured, causing the destruction of many precarious and permanent homes in 101^e department of France. Cyclones usually develop in the Indian Ocean from November to March. This year, surface waters are near 30°C in the area, providing significant energy for storms. This global warming phenomenon was also observed this fall in the North Atlantic and the Pacific.