VICTORIA, Seychelles, People who have their loved ones buried in the children’s designated section of the Mont Fleuri cemetery will have to contact the burial services to discuss adjustments that have to be made to the tombs. The call by the burial services within the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs came yesterday after part of the cemetery was destroyed by an ancient wall which collapsed on Wednesday evening during heavy rainfall. The incident has caused distress to families with plots in the affected area.
The wall, which was made entirely of rocks and cemented with red earth on the inside, fell during the night. The damages were discovered by senior cemetery supervisor Selwyn Gill during his routine inspection. Mr Gill immediately alerted his superiors and the burial services section, prompting an urgent assessment of the situation. The full extent of the damage is still being evaluated.
Given that some tombs have been washed away completely, leaving black holes only, Mrs Mathiot said the burial services section was working to identify the initial number of the tombs. The assessment process is expected to take several days, as officials need to cross-check burial records with the affected plots. Families are being asked to be patient while the inventory is being compiled.
The repair of the tombs will be on a case by case basis depending of the damage, said Mrs Mathiot. The burial services manager is calling on the public to contact them on 4321222 during working hours or to call at their office. The ministry has also set up a dedicated team to handle the situation and provide support to affected families.
The wall encircling the burial ground of fallen British soldiers was built during the colonial days. This section of the cemetery is managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which is responsible for the maintenance of war memorials and military cemeteries around the world. The collapse has raised concerns about the structural integrity of other similar structures in the area, and the ministry is expected to conduct a broader assessment of all historical cemetery walls.
