Mayotte Faces Renewed Flooding and Mudslides Following Latest Storm

Wed Jan 14 2026 00:46:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The French territory of Mayotte grapples with severe weather conditions as heavy rains trigger flooding and mudslides, just a month after Cyclone Chido wreaked havoc across the islands.

Mayotte is on high alert as another storm, Dikeledi, has resulted in significant rainfall, flooding, and mudslides in the region. With at least three fatalities reported in Madagascar, authorities are concerned for the well-being of the 14,500 residents who have sought refuge in emergency shelters. The aftermath of the previous Cyclone Chido is still fresh in the minds of the citizens as they confront growing environmental challenges.

The French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte is experiencing heavy rains, which have caused severe flooding and mudslides, less than a month after Cyclone Chido devastated the islands and resulted in numerous casualties. Following the latest storm’s arrival, authorities have elevated the alert level to the highest status and issued warnings about powerful winds, flash floods, and landslides.

Social media platforms are flooded with videos depicting downed power lines amidst emerging inundation, with local reports indicating that the village of Mbouini, previously unaffected by Cyclone Chido, is now submerged. The storm, named Dikeledi, made landfall in northern Madagascar on Saturday, leading to at least three confirmed deaths.

According to François-Xavier Bieuville, the prefect of Mayotte, the territory is beginning to feel the effects of "extremely heavy rains," which have already resulted in some of the first floods and significant mudslides. He stated that the region is expected to remain under red alert until Monday evening, with continuous heavy rainfall anticipated even post-storm.

Approximately 14,500 residents have taken refuge in emergency shelters, as reported by French news channel BFMTV. By Sunday afternoon, meteorological updates indicated that Dikeledi was moving away from Mayotte. However, it is projected to intensify over the next 24 hours and approach Mozambique's coast as a tropical cyclone, though landfall is currently not expected.

Mozambique is still recovering from the impact of Cyclone Chido, which caused significant destruction and loss of life, with an official death toll of 120 people reported. Mayotte continues to struggle with the adverse effects of severe weather; the archipelago, considered one of the poorest regions of France, faces ongoing challenges, with estimates suggesting that between 100,000 to 200,000 undocumented migrants reside within its 320,000 official population. Cyclone Chido tragically marked the worst storm in 90 years, bringing catastrophic winds and leading to a grim tally of fatalities, recently revised to 39.