Cyclone-ravaged Mayotte on high alert as new storm approaches
Residents of the French territory of Mayotte braced 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 1900 GMT on Saturday in anticipation of the passage of Dikeledi, a storm forecast to skirt about 100 kilometers (60 miles) 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 6:00 am local time (0300 GMT) the storm was around 260 kilometers southeast of Mayotte, moving at 22 kilometers 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".
Mayotte was placed on red weather alert in anticipation of the passage of Dikeledi to the south of the territory.