Mayotte and Madagascar Face Dire Consequences as Cyclone Dikeledi Strikes

Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi has resulted in fatalities and widespread displacement in Madagascar and Mayotte, compounding the devastation from Cyclone Chido. As the storm approaches the African mainland, efforts to provide emergency assistance are underway to aid communities affected by severe weather conditions.

Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi has inflicted significant damage in Madagascar and the French territory of Mayotte, leading to at least three fatalities over the weekend due to heavy rainfall and flooding. This storm has particularly affected Madagascar, Mayotte, Comoros, and Mozambique, following the earlier devastation caused by Cyclone Chido in Mayotte last month.

Cyclone Dikeledi developed in the Southern Indian Ocean earlier this month, intensifying before making landfall in northern Madagascar on January 11. A report from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations indicated that over 15,000 individuals have been displaced in Madagascar, with approximately 20,000 evacuating in Mayotte.

While Dikeledi weakened upon reaching Mayotte, the archipelago experienced severe winds, flash floods, and landslides. Many areas, including Mbouini, encountered flooding from the rains associated with Dikeledi. A local resident expressed their distress, stating, “We’re only in the middle of the rainy season, so we don’t know what’s going to happen between now and February or March.”

Manuel Valls, the French minister for overseas territories, reported the storm’s violent impact on Mayotte. Despite the damage, no casualties have yet been recorded in the territory. Meanwhile, Francois-Xavier Bieuville, the prefect of Mayotte, noted the ongoing severe weather conditions in the region.

The ECHO Flash report anticipates that Cyclone Dikeledi will further intensify while traversing southward through the Mozambique Channel over the next few days, bringing with it more heavy rains, strong winds, and storm surges to Madagascar, Mayotte, Comoros, and Mozambique. Previous storms have left lasting scars; Cyclone Chido, which affected Mayotte earlier, resulted in at least 36 casualties in this region alone, with over 120 deaths reported in Mozambique.

Efforts to respond to the crises in Madagascar have commenced, with emergency supplies and cash assistance being distributed to affected households, according to a United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs update.

Cyclone Dikeledi has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Madagascar and Mayotte, following the destruction previously wrought by Cyclone Chido. With thousands displaced and ongoing threats from severe weather, response efforts are critical. Authorities continue to monitor the cyclone’s trajectory as both immediate and long-term risks loom for the affected populations in the region.

Original Source: news.mongabay.com