VICTORIA, Seychelles — Cyclone Belal swept past Mauritius and Reunion on Monday and into Tuesday, causing widespread damage across both islands, with at least one death reported in Mauritius. The cyclone, classified at category 3 as it passed closest to Mauritius, brought destructive winds, flooding rains, and extended power cuts to tens of thousands of households. Both islands remain in clean-up and damage assessment mode as the storm tracks away to the south-east.
For Seychelles, the cyclone passed far enough south that direct damage was limited, but the regional impact has been felt. The Seychelles Meteorological Authority said on Monday that the country’s outer islands had experienced elevated swells and gusty conditions, and a small-craft advisory remained in place for the southern atolls. Seychelles is, in any case, often the first country to offer assistance to its Indian Ocean neighbours in such events, and that offer is now likely to follow once the regional picture is clearer.
In Mauritius, the director of meteorological services, Ram Dhurmea, resigned on Tuesday morning in the face of public criticism of the forecasting and public warning response, according to L’Express Maurice. The prime minister’s office said the resignation would be processed quickly. Schools and most government offices in Mauritius were closed on Tuesday, and a motorcyclist was confirmed dead in a road accident blamed on storm conditions.
On Reunion, a French overseas department, more than 130,000 households were without power at the height of the storm, according to Reunion la 1ere. The French prefecture ordered residents to remain indoors from 5pm on Monday until midday on Tuesday, in one of the most extensive confinement orders in the territory’s recent history. Damage to the electricity network and to roads was particularly severe in the western and southern districts.
The economic cost is still being assessed, but the tourism sector in both islands is expected to take an early hit. The Mauritius Tourism Authority said on Tuesday morning that it was too early to estimate the impact on bookings. Air Mauritius cancelled a number of regional flights on Monday and Tuesday. Both Mauritius and Reunion are now expected to apply for French and Indian Ocean Commission assistance to support the recovery.
Forecasters in Seychelles are watching the next tropical disturbance in the south-west Indian Ocean basin for any sign of a track back towards the archipelago.
