Cyclone Dikeledi: Mayotte will be on red alert at 8 p.m., how the archipelago is preparing for the extreme weather phenomenon

Heavy rains expected, the airport closed at 6 p.m. (4 p.m. Paris time), barge traffic interrupted since Saturday morning… Mayotte is preparing for the worst with the arrival of cyclone Dikeledi, while the archipelago is not is not recovered from Chido’s passage.

The French department will be placed at 8 p.m. (Paris time, 10 p.m. local) in a state of red cyclone alert, announces the Mayotte prefecture. “I have decided to bring forward this red alert to 10 p.m. to allow everyone to take shelter, to confine themselves well, to take care of the people close to you, your children, your families, vulnerable people, grandparents, mothers who are isolated, to ensure that everyone can be protected in this upcoming period”said Mr. Bieuville:.

According to forecasters, the trajectory of this new cyclone could pass 75 km south of the archipelago devastated a little over a month ago by the passage of Cyclone Chido.

The cyclone “will cross Madagascar today and lose power to transit approximately 75 kilometers from the southern tip of Mayotte, during the day on Sunday, at the strong tropical storm stage”says the prefecture of Mayotte in a press release published on its website.

Gusts at 120 km/hour

“Winds of 50 to 60 km/h on average are expected across the entire island and possibly more intense in the south, with gusts between 100 and 120 km/h. A deterioration in weather conditions is therefore expected at From this Saturday evening until Monday morning: heavy stormy precipitation, strong gusts of winds and risk of marine submersion on the west and south coasts of the department.”

The prefecture announces “Very heavy rain capable of generating flash floods, flooding and landslides is expected from late next night and throughout much of the day tomorrow” (Sunday).

“A dangerous sea state, particularly on the western lagoon, could also accompany this deterioration with a risk of marine submersion on the coasts of the department, particularly around high tides”3:30 p.m. Sunday and 3:45 a.m. Monday morning specifies the prefecture.

Still according to the prefect, “the population must be confined in a solid dwelling, with a stock of water and food available to survive the cyclone”, in an accommodation center you have to “safe places”.

“According to the diagrams and calculations that have been established, the south and south-east of the island could be particularly exposed”declared a little earlier the Minister of Overseas Manuel Valls, who ensures that “nothing is left to chance regarding the arrival of this cyclone.” He specifies that 700 Civil Security personnel are mobilized on French territory.

The latest death toll from Cyclone Chido is at least 39 dead, 124 seriously injured and 4,136 lightly injured.