Less than a month after the devastating passage of Cyclone Chido, Mayotte will face a new storm this Sunday. The prefect declared that the island will be placed on red alert this evening, at 8 p.m.
The Mahorais once again under threat from the elements. Devastated by the passage of Cyclone Chido almost a month ago, the archipelago will be hit by a new storm, named Dikeledi, this Sunday. The red alert for the cyclonic phenomenon will be triggered this evening, at 8 p.m. (Paris time), announced the prefect of the department.
“I decided to bring forward this red alert to 8 p.m. to allow everyone to take shelter, to confine themselves well, to take care of the people close to you,” explained the prefect on the Mayotte TV channel. the 1st. This implies “the prohibition of movement, neither on land nor sea”, of “going to the beaches, […] to stay outside his home,” he said.
Very heavy rainfall
Currently located off the coast of Madagascar, the cyclone is inexorably approaching Mayotte, which it is expected to hit on Sunday morning. “According to the diagrams and calculations that are established, the south and south-east of the island could be particularly exposed,” said Manuel Valls. But the north of the island, devastated by the passage of Chido, will not be spared either. Mudslides and floods are feared there.
The winds will strengthen this Saturday evening, with gusts expected between 50 and 60 km/h. But the worst is to come this Sunday, with gusts of between 80 and 90 km/h, or even 100 to 110 km/h locally. Precipitation will also be abundant throughout the day, with rainfall totals exceeding 100 or even 150 mm.
700 members of civil security mobilized
Météo-France forecasters also warn of a high risk of wave-submersion in the Acoua sector, in the north of the island. The combined effects of high tide, sustained winds and rain could cause flooding, particularly early in the afternoon.
The arrival of Cyclone Dikeledi in this already devastated territory risks complicating rescue operations, which will not be able to rely on air resources, as Mayotte airport has been closed since 4 p.m. Nevertheless, 700 members of civil security are mobilized on site and more than “71 emergency accommodation centers have been identified,” assured Manuel Valls.
The Overseas Minister also assured that he was “very attentive” to the state of networks and telecommunications. “There is a special device for sheltering the antennas so that we can quickly reuse them after the cyclone passes,” he explained to AFP.
