Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi has struck Madagascar, causing fatalities and widespread displacement, and is expected to affect Mayotte, Comoros, and Mozambique further. The cyclone follows the recent devastation of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte, raising concerns about infrastructure damage and humanitarian assistance in the region.
Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi caused devastation across Madagascar and is now threatening Mayotte, Comoros, and Mozambique. The cyclone, which formed in the Southern Indian Ocean, made landfall in northern Madagascar on January 11, resulting in heavy rainfall and flooding. Reports indicate that at least three fatalities occurred in Madagascar during the storm’s passage.
Approximately 15,000 individuals have been displaced in northern Madagascar, as stated by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). In Mayotte, around 20,000 residents have evacuated their homes following the cyclone’s impacts. Despite a slight weakening of Dikeledi as it approached Mayotte, the island still experienced strong winds and severe flooding on January 12.
In Mbouini, a village previously affected by Cyclone Chido, residents faced flooding due to Dikeledi, leaving them traumatized. A local resident expressed sentiments of distress, stating they are uncertain about the continuation of adverse weather, given the ongoing rainy season. Minister Manuel Valls described the situation in Mayotte as one of immense violence due to the tropical storm.
Francois-Xavier Bieuville, the prefect of Mayotte, emphasized the territory’s fragility amidst ongoing strong winds and heavy rainfall. The ECHO report warns that Cyclone Dikeledi may intensify while moving southward through the Mozambique Channel, exacerbating conditions in Madagascar, Mayotte, Comoros, and Mozambique in the following days.
Cyclone Chido, which recently impacted Mayotte, was the strongest to hit the region in over 90 years, resulting in the deaths of at least 36 individuals in the French territory alone, along with over 120 fatalities in Mozambique. In response to the disasters, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is providing emergency assistance to affected households.
Cyclone Dikeledi has severely impacted Madagascar and is expected to threaten Mayotte and surrounding regions further. Many individuals have been displaced, and reports of flooding and infrastructure damage have surfaced. Preparations are underway to address the humanitarian needs resulting from these natural disasters, particularly following the devastation of Cyclone Chido. The region remains under alert as further adverse weather is anticipated.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com
