Mauritius yesterday raised a cyclone warning alert to maximum as powerful winds and rains from Tropical Storm Belal caused havoc in the Indian Ocean island nation.
The Mauritian government has ordered all inhabitants to stay indoors, but the meteorological service said the storm was moving eastward away from the remote island.
Belal has left thousands of people without power and numerous vehicles submerged under floodwaters caused by torrential rain or piled up on streets.
Photo: AFP
Police said the body of a motorcyclist was found on a flooded highway, the victim of a traffic accident.
Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, in a statement on national television on Monday, confirmed one fatality.
Belal had already battered the French overseas territory of Reunion, leaving one person dead.
The international airport in Mauritius was closed on Monday until further notice and Air Mauritius announced that several flights scheduled for yesterday, including to France and South Africa, had been canceled.
In his address on Monday, Jugnauth criticized Mauritius Meteorological Services (MMS) and announced that its 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 all decisions made by the government had depended on information from MMS. “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.”
The Mauritian government on Monday announced that a curfew would remain in force until noon yesterday, with only certain people, such as emergency workers, allowed to go outdoors.
The Central Electricity Board said 8,400 people in Mauritius, which has a population of almost 1.3 million, were without power.
MMS said in its update yesterday that gusts of up to about 120kph were pummeling the island, a magnet for tourists attracted by its stunning white beaches and crystal-clear waters.
It said cyclone warning 4, the maximum level, was in force, but that barometric pressure was rising, “indicating that Belal has already crossed at its closest distance from Mauritius.”
“However, the cyclonic winds associated with Belal are still influencing the island,” it said.
It warned of sea swells of up to 10m beyond the reefs.
“Storm surge will cause coastal inundation along low-lying coastal areas. It is strictly advised not to go out at sea and to avoid venturing along beaches,” the agency added.
About a dozen storms or cyclones occur each year in the southwest Indian Ocean during the November to April season.
FRAUD ALLEGED: The leader of an opposition alliance made allegations of electoral irregularities and called for a protest in Tirana as European leaders are to meet Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party scored a large victory in parliamentary elections, securing him his fourth term, official results showed late on Tuesday. The Socialist Party won 52.1 percent of the vote on Sunday compared with 34.2 percent for an alliance of opposition parties led by his main rival Sali Berisha, according to results released by the Albanian Central Election Commission. Diaspora votes have yet to be counted, but according to initial results, Rama was also leading there. According to projections, the Socialist Party could have more lawmakers than in 2021 elections. At the time, it won 74 seats in the
EUROPEAN FUTURE? Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama says only he could secure EU membership, but challenges remain in dealing with corruption and a brain drain Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama seeks to win an unprecedented fourth term, pledging to finally take the country into the EU and turn it into a hot tourist destination with some help from the Trump family. The artist-turned-politician has been pitching Albania as a trendy coastal destination, which has helped to drive up tourism arrivals to a record 11 million last year. US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also joined in the rush, pledging to invest US$1.4 billion to turn a largely deserted island into a luxurious getaway. Rama is expected to win another term after yesterday’s vote. The vote would
CANCER: Jose Mujica earned the moniker ‘world’s poorest president’ for giving away much of his salary and living a simple life on his farm, with his wife and dog Tributes poured in on Tuesday from across Latin America following the death of former Uruguayan president Jose “Pepe” Mujica, an ex-guerrilla fighter revered by the left for his humility and progressive politics. He was 89. Mujica, who spent a dozen years behind bars for revolutionary activity, lost his battle against cancer after announcing in January that the disease had spread and he would stop treatment. “With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our comrade Pepe Mujica. President, activist, guide and leader. We will miss you greatly, old friend,” Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi wrote on X. “Pepe, eternal,” a cyclist shouted out minutes later,
A Croatian town has come up with a novel solution to solve the issue of working parents when there are no public childcare spaces available: pay grandparents to do it. Samobor, near the capital, Zagreb, has become the first in the country to run a “Grandmother-Grandfather Service,” which pays 360 euros (US$400) a month per child. The scheme allows grandparents to top up their pension, but the authorities also hope it will boost family ties and tackle social isolation as the population ages. “The benefits are multiple,” Samobor Mayor Petra Skrobot told reporters. “Pensions are rather low and for parents it is sometimes
RSS