In the face of impending torrential rains and the looming threat of flooding, educational institutions across Mauritius have been closed, mirroring the precautionary measures taken in response to the havoc wreaked by Tropical Cyclone Belal on the nearby French island of Réunion.
As the tempest, characterised by its formidable force, battered Réunion, pushing it to the highest cyclone alert level, the repercussions echoed across both islands.
The alarming escalation prompted authorities to issue stringent warnings, urging residents to remain indoors. In a grim turn of events, emergency services were forced to stand down, rendering them incapable of intervening in the wake of the extreme weather conditions.
The severity of the situation manifested in tragic incidents, claiming lives in both Réunion and Mauritius.
In the resort village of Saint-Gilles on Réunion’s west coast, the lifeless body of a homeless man was discovered just prior to the cyclone alert escalating from red to purple on a fateful Monday.
Authorities, despite their efforts, disclosed that the man had declined evacuation, a poignant choice in the face of an impending natural calamity.
Mauritius, too, bore witness to the harsh consequences of the inclement weather. In the village of Baie-du-Tombeau, a 75-year-old man met a tragic fate as he succumbed to drowning on a sombre Sunday.
The relentless storm’s impact extended to the coastal waters of La Preneuse in western Mauritius, where two intrepid surfers braved the tempestuous seas. While one managed to navigate the tumultuous waters and reach the safety of the coast, the other remains unaccounted for, lost amidst the unforgiving forces of nature.
