Mauritius raises alert after Cyclone Belal cause torrential rain and flooding
By Halima Mohammed
Kanempress News
16th January 2024
Mauritius has raised a cyclone warning alert to maximum after Cyclone Belal caused torrential rain and flooding.
The country’s meteorological service said the storm was now moving away eastwards, but warned that “other environmental risks” still existed.
At least one person has died in Mauritius, and another in neighbouring Réunion, from the storm.
It caused thousands without power, as well as heavily flooded streets.
The Mauritius Meteorological Service (MMS) said that the level 4 warning, the maximum level, was in place after the storm struck close to the country’s southern coast on Tuesday morning at about 90km/h (56 mph).
According to the agency, the storm was now moving eastwards, in the direction of the Indian Ocean, at a speed of about 18km/h.
“There are no longer any risks of having cyclonic conditions over Mauritius but other environmental risks exist,” it said, urging citizens to remain in safe places and not to go out to sea, or walk along shorelines, because of the potential for storm surges.
On Monday, Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth had confirmed one death, and criticised the MMS for its response to the storm, saying the director had submitted his resignation.
“I have to admit that the country has had a difficult time because of Cyclone Belal,” he said, adding that government decisions had relied on information from the meteorological service,” he said.
“I am surprised that the arrival of the heavy rains was not anticipated by the weather services. I share the anger of many Mauritians. Those responsible will have to assume their responsibilities,” he maintained.
