The French territory of Mayotte is grappling with the aftermath of severe floods and mudslides caused by relentless heavy rains ushered in by Storm Dikeledi, just a month after the catastrophic Cyclone Chido left significant destruction in its wake. With emergency protocols activated, the archipelago remains under the highest state of alert, following reports of violent winds, flash flooding, and landslides.

Eyewitnesses shared alarming videos on social media depicting downed power lines, and local news indicated that the southern village of Mbouini, previously untouched by Cyclone Chido, now finds itself submerged in water. The storm made landfall in northern Madagascar on Saturday and has since resulted in the tragic loss of at least three lives.

On Sunday morning, the storm was measured to be about 100 km (62 miles) south of Mayotte, with Météo-France reporting that "extremely heavy rains are beginning to trickle down." François-Xavier Bieuville, the prefect of Mayotte, highlighted that initial flooding and significant mudslides were already occurring across the territory. He cautioned that the islands would likely remain on red alert until Monday evening due to anticipated prolonged rainfall even after the storm's passage.

Emergency shelters have been set up in response to the impending crisis, with reports indicating at least 14,500 residents seeking refuge. By Sunday afternoon, Storm Dikeledi was continuing to move away from Mayotte, but projections showed it may intensify to a tropical cyclone, posing threats to the coast of Mozambique. Although landfall in Mozambique is not currently forecasted, the Nampula region is bracing for adverse weather conditions.

The struggles of Mayotte amplify against a backdrop of socioeconomic challenges; this island, one of the poorest regions of France, is home to approximately 320,000 residents, yet an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 undocumented migrants also reside there. Cyclone Chido's devastation, which struck on December 14, marked the most severe storm in 90 years for Mayotte, with winds reaching up to 260 km/h (160 mph) and initial casualties reported in the hundreds, though later revised to 39. Residents continue to cope with the relentless impacts of these severe weather events as they strive for recovery.