At about 1600 hours, intense tropical cyclone Freddy has passed its closest point to Mauritius. It was at about 120 kilometres from Grand Bay. The Vacoas weather station has issued its 12th bulletin for the intense tropical cyclone Freddy. The cyclone is moving at a speed of 30 km/h. A cyclone warning class 3 remains in force in Mauritius. However, chances that a warning class 4 is issued are very low as Freddy has started to leave Mauritius.
Nonetheless, the weather is expected to deteriorate further in the following hours. The Meteo Station is expecting that the wind will blow from the Southeast at a speed of about 60 km/h and could gradually strengthen with gusts up to 120 km/h.
However, it is the sea that remains a problem. The Meteo services are expecting strong swells of about 7 meters beyond the reefs. A storm surge is also expected with the submergence of some areas at risk on the coast. It is strictly advised not to go out at sea.
In some areas, the sea water level has gone up. In Mahébourg, the sea is almost at the same level as the Mahébourg esplanade. In Palmar, the sea is rough in the lagoon. And in Grand Baube, the rise of water is alarming.
The Police Force is warning people that have gone out to go back home. Especially since a cyclone warning class 3 is still in force in the country. It is only for urgencies that people should leave their homes, said inspector Shiva Coothen.
According to the Central Electricity Board, about a hundred houses are without electricity across the island. However, the head of communication of the CEB stated that these are isolated cases.
