Cyclone Dikeledi moves away from Mayotte, leaves three dead in Madagascar

Cyclone Dikeledi was moving away from the French territory of Mayotte on Sunday but the archipelago will remain under red alert until Monday evening. The storm however caused flash floods in the neighbouring Indian Ocean island of Madagascar, where at least three people were killed.

Dikeledi hit the northern coast of Madagascar as a cyclone on Saturday evening before weakening into a severe tropical storm.

"In terms of impact, Antsiranana province in Madagascar has sustained the most intense conditions in recent hours," Météo-France said, referring to the island's northern tip.

Three people died in the torrential rains that battered northern Madagascar, the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) said on Sunday. More than 900 people were also affected.

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At its closest, Dikeledi passed around 100 kilometres south of Mayotte early on Sunday morning.

"It is now moving away from the island," national weather service Météo-France said.

On Saturday night, Mayotte was placed on red alert in anticipation of the storm's passage. It is to remain as such until Monday, local police said.

Dikeledi came less than a month after the most devastating cyclone to hit France's poorest department in 90 years caused colossal damage in mid-December, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 5,600.

Heavy rain in Madagascar

Rain and wind intensified in Mayotte on Sunday morning, hitting up to 80-90 kilometres per hour particularly in the southern part of the island.

Torrential rain was reported in Pamandzi, in the south of the island of Petite-Terre.


Read more on RFI English

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