MAMOUDZOU: Residents of the French territory of Mayotte braced on Sunday for a storm expected to bring strong winds and flash floods less than a month after the Indian Ocean archipelago was devastated by a deadly cyclone.
Mayotte was placed on red alert from 19:00 GMT on Saturday in anticipation of the passage of Dikeledi, a storm forecast to skirt about 100 kilometres south of the territory. It hit the northern coast of Madagascar as a cyclone on Saturday evening and weakened into a severe tropical storm, but is expected to regain intensity as it moves towards Mayotte.
It could be reclassified as a cyclone by Monday morning, according to French weather service Meteo-France.
At around 6 am local time the storm was around 260 kilometres southeast of Mayotte, moving at 22 kilometres per hour.
"In terms of impact, Antsiranana province in Madagascar has sustained the most intense conditions in recent hours," Meteo-France said, referring to the island's northern tip.
Authorities called for "extreme vigilance" on Mayotte following the devastation wrought by Cyclone Chido in mid-December.
"Very heavy rains could generate flash floods," Meteo-France said in its update, warning that "floods and landslides are expected in the coming hours". Wind gusts could reach 90 km/h on the French territory, while "dangerous sea conditions" are also forecast.
Residents were advised to seek shelter and stock up on food and water.
"Nothing is being left to chance," Manuel Valls, France's overseas territories minister, said.
Cyclone Chido, the most devastating storm to hit France's poorest department in 90 years, caused colossal damage last month, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 5,600.
Francois-Xavier Bieuville, the top Paris-appointed official on the territory, said Mayotte was placed on a red weather alert from 19:00 GMT on Saturday to allow the public to take shelter.
"I have decided to bring forward this red alert to 10:00 pm to allow everyone to take shelter, to confine themselves, to take care of the people close to you, your children, your families," Bieuville said on television. During the alert all travel is banned except for rescue and other authorised personnel. — AFP
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