Error: Invalid `paths` value returned from getStaticPaths (without any changes on files) Slug - node.js

Question

iam recently receiving this error message without any changes to files. I deleted some products and categories via the webGUI which might cause this?
Environment is:
Frontend: React, Next.js, TypeScript & Tailwind
Backend: Laravel
Error:
> Build error occurred
Error: Invalid `paths` value returned from getStaticPaths in /category/[slug].
`paths` must be an array of strings or objects of shape { params: [key: string]: string }
at buildStaticPaths (/var/www/domain/node_modules/next/dist/build/utils.js:490:15)
at processTicksAndRejections (internal/process/task_queues.js:95:5)
at async /var/www/domain/node_modules/next/dist/build/utils.js:615:119
at async Span.traceAsyncFn (/var/www/domain/node_modules/next/dist/telemetry/trace/trace.js:60:20) {
type: 'Error'
}
Category Slug tsx content:
import Container from "#components/ui/container";
import { getLayout } from "#components/layout/layout";
import Subscription from "#components/common/subscription";
import CategoryBanner from "#containers/category-banner";
import { useRouter } from "next/router";
import CategoryProductsGrid from "#components/category/category-products-grid";
export { getStaticPaths, getStaticProps } from "#framework/ssr/category";
export default function Category() {
const { query } = useRouter();
return (
<div className="border-t-2 border-borderBottom">
<Container>
<CategoryBanner className="my-4"/>
<div className="pb-16 lg:pb-20">
<CategoryProductsGrid
classname="3xl:grid-cols-6"
categorySlug={query?.slug as string}
/>
</div>
<Subscription />
</Container>
</div>
);
}
Category.getLayout = getLayout;
SSR for category.ts:
// This function gets called at build time
export async function getStaticPaths({ locales }: GetStaticPathsContext) {
const categories = await fetchCategories({
queryKey: [API_ENDPOINTS.CATEGORIES, { limit: 100, parent: null }],
});
const paths = categories?.data?.flatMap((category: Category) =>
locales?.map((locale) => ({ params: { slug: category.slug }, locale }))
);
return {
paths,
fallback: "blocking",
};
}
Notes:
the only changes were made before the error occured via the webGUI (deleted products).
i deleted all locales on configured one locale. Maybe theres an issue. But after these changes the build ran fine for a week.
when i run the same code on my local computer with the same node etc. Versions it works. Is there any cache that must be deleted to make it work again?
Thank you in advance for any tip that could cause this. I tried alot of things but cant figure it out yet.