125 millimeters of rain were recorded in Port Louis on Monday morning, January 15. The torrential downpour that lashed the capital took many Mauritians by surprise as tropical cyclone Belal was on alert 2.
Dozens of vehicles have been submerged by rising waters. This news has gone around the worldThis scene can been seen in many places in Port-Louis but also at Pailles, on the Motorway, in Ebene and other parts of the country. However, it is in the capital that the problem is more acute. On the M1 at Pailles, this chaotic situation has cause a big traffic jam. Some 80 vehicles were piled up; Behind Swan’s office, in Port-Louis, the force of the waters swept away several vehicles in Port-Louis. These cars were thrown one on top of the other. There are many critics towards the meteorological station of Vacoas for having not taken the necessary measures to prevent Mauritians from going to work this Monday.
Heavy flooding hit Mauritius on Monday as a tropical cyclone closed in on the Indian Ocean island nation after battering the French overseas territory of Reunion. Images posted on social media showed numerous cars in the capital Port Louis submerged under a brown deluge of floodwater or piled up on the street, as torrential rains lashed the city. The international airport announced it would be closed from 4:30 pm (1230 GMT) until further notice, while banks, government offices and other private businesses shut their doors and sent staff home.
The Mauritius Meteorological Services (MMS) said in a statement that a class 3 cyclone warning (out of four levels) was in force and advised the public to stay in a safe place, with “torrential rain conditions” expected in the coming hours.
It said that at 4:00 pm Belal was about 130 kilometres (80 miles) west-southwest of Le Morne, which lies on the southwest of the island, and was moving east-southeast at a speed of about 14 kilometres an hour. An AFP correspondent said rains had caused havoc in Port Louis and other areas including St Jean to the south of the capital.
“When the government closed offices today at 12:30 pm, it created a big panic. Many did not find their cars,” said a bank employee, who identified himself by his first name Rouben. “My car was carried away 500 metres by rainwater,” the 50-year-old said. “This is the first time in my life that I’ve seen this.” The radius of cyclonic winds is likely to cross the southern part of the island and Belal is expected to pass at its closest distance of 70 km to the south of the island early tomorrow (Tuesday) morning,” the MMS said.
Between midnight and 11.30am on Monday the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service was called out on numerous occasions. The fire department carried out no fewer than 28 interventions. 23 cases concerned road obstructions in various localities. Rescue teams also had to intervene in yards where water levels had risen.
Tuesday 16 January 2024 a bank holiday.
The Public is hereby informed that further to the Order made by the National Crisis Committee, as published in today’s Government Gazette, the Bank has, by virtue of Section 63 of the Banking Act, declared Tuesday 16 January 2024 a bank holiday.
