The French territory of Mayotte braced for another tropical storm, Dikeledi, just weeks after the catastrophic Cyclone Chido ravaged the islands in December 2023. A red alert was issued, urging residents to remain indoors, secure sturdy shelter, and stockpile essential supplies like food and water. Dikeledi, though weaker than Chido, threatened heavy rains and powerful winds, raising concerns about flooding and landslides in the already devastated region. This new threat intensified anxiety and underscored the vulnerability of the archipelago, France’s poorest department, still grappling with the aftermath of Chido. The storm’s arrival triggered memories of the recent devastation and highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the island community.
Dikeledi’s impact extended beyond Mayotte. Before reaching the French territory, the storm made landfall in Madagascar as a cyclone, resulting in three fatalities and prompting red alerts in the northern parts of the country. By the time it reached Mayotte, Dikeledi had weakened to a tropical storm, its center passing approximately 100 kilometers south of the islands, a trajectory less direct than Chido’s head-on collision. However, the threat remained substantial, with Météo-France forecasting the possibility of Dikeledi regaining cyclone strength. The Mayotte Prefecture enforced restrictions, prohibiting civilian movement outdoors until the red alert was lifted.
The memory of Cyclone Chido’s devastation loomed large as Mayotte prepared for Dikeledi. Chido, the strongest cyclone to hit the islands in nearly a century, had left a trail of destruction, claiming at least 39 lives, injuring over 5,000, and leaving 200 people missing. The storm had severely damaged infrastructure, including the international airport, which was forced to close again in anticipation of Dikeledi. The previous disaster had fuelled anger and frustration among Mayotte residents, directed at the French government, which they accused of neglect and inadequate support.
The French authorities, mindful of the previous criticism and the precarious situation, mobilized emergency personnel and security forces ahead of Dikeledi’s arrival. Particular attention was given to the vulnerable shantytowns surrounding Mamoudzou, the capital, where many displaced by Chido remained without proper shelter. The fragility of the situation was further underscored by reports from Mayotte la 1ère, the national TV station, which documented the flooding and near-total destruction of Mbouini, a southern village that had largely been spared by Chido. Footage showed residents fleeing their submerged homes in wooden canoes, a stark image of the storm’s impact.
The recurring cyclones highlight the challenges faced by Mayotte, a densely populated territory of roughly 320,000 people, further strained by an estimated 100,000 undocumented migrants drawn by the French welfare system. This influx adds another layer of complexity to disaster response and recovery efforts. The aftermath of Chido revealed the difficulties in accurately assessing casualties and providing aid, particularly among the undocumented population. Cultural practices, such as the Muslim tradition of swift burial, further complicated accounting for the dead and injured.
The back-to-back cyclones underscore the vulnerability of Mayotte and the broader region to extreme weather events during the November to April cyclone season. The southwestern Indian Ocean has been battered by several powerful cyclones in recent years, the most devastating being Cyclone Idai in 2019. Idai’s widespread impact across Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe resulted in over 1,500 deaths and affected more than three million people, serving as a stark reminder of the destructive potential of these storms. The repeated onslaught of these natural disasters necessitates strengthened disaster preparedness measures, improved infrastructure resilience, and a greater focus on mitigating the impact of future cyclones in this vulnerable region. The experience with Chido and the arrival of Dikeledi emphasize the need for long-term solutions to address the underlying vulnerabilities and build a more resilient future for Mayotte and the surrounding areas.
