Storm-battered Mayotte braces for passage of new cyclone
The French department of Mayotte is to be placed on high cyclone alert on Saturday evening, according to the Minister of Overseas Territories. Authorities fear the effects of cyclone Dikeledi whose trajectory could pass just 75 km south of the archipelago, which is still struggling to get back on its feet a month after cyclone Chido.
Overseas Territories Minister Manuel Valls told BFM TV on Saturday that a current orange alert would become a red alert in the evening, as weather conditions were set to worsen overnight.
The decision came after an emergency cabinet meeting in Paris, coordinated by the Interior Ministry.
National weather bureau Météo France published its forecast saying cyclone Dikeledi would cross Madagascar during the course of the day and pass by approximately 75km from the southern tip of Mayotte on Sunday, where it would be classified as a "strong tropical storm".
Winds of 50 to 60 km/h on average are expected on the whole island and possibly more intense in the south, with gusts between 100 and 120 km/h, the bureau said.
There would also be risk of some coastal flooding on the west and south coasts, the police said, adding that local ferry transportation would be suspended.
Thousands displaced
The new storm alert comes less than a month after the passage of Cyclone Chido, the most devastating storm to hit the small archipelago in the Indian Ocean in 90 years.
At least 39 people were killed, 124 seriously injured and over 5,000 injured.
Thousands more lost their homes and have been relying on donations and temporary accomodation to get by.
Read more on RFI English
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