PORT LOUIS – Thousands of homes were left without power in Mauritius yesterday but the Indian Ocean island nation escaped without “major damage” from a battering by powerful cyclone winds.
Tropical cyclone Batsirai passed within 130km (80 miles) of the popular holiday destination, bringing heavy downpours and winds of 120km per hour, with a peak of 151km per hour recorded in the capital Port Louis.
The French territory of La Reunion, which lies about 230km southwest of Mauritius, was on red alert and residents were told to stay indoors with the cyclone expected to speed past its shores overnight.
Life was brought to a standstill in Mauritius, with public transport cancelled, shops and banks shut, and air and sea travel halted.
At least 7,500 homes were without power after the winds knocked down trees onto electricity lines, according to the local electricity board.
The telephone network was also disrupted but there appeared to be little structural damage.
“Fortunately, the cyclone did not pass directly over the island as feared. It passed some distance from the island and did not cause major damage,” Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth said on national television.
“We will try to get the situation back to normal as soon as possible,” he added.
The reopening of schools, closed since November because of the spread of the Covid-19 variant Omicron, could not take place as planned.
“All cyclone (warning) advisories will be lifted around 10pm (1800 GMT),” said a statement from the weather service.
In 2007, two people were killed in Mauritius and nine hurt in Reunion when a cyclone hit the islands.
Tropical storms and torrential rains have also wreaked havoc in southern Africa in recent days, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Tropical Storm Ana claimed the lives of 86 people in Mozambique, Madagascar and Malawi last week. – AFP, February 3, 2022
