The purple level of the cyclone alert implies “a strict confinement of the entire population, including emergency and security services”, specifies a press release from the prefecture of this overseas department of around 870,000 inhabitants. “All circulation is formally prohibited, for any reason and until further notice,” adds the same source.
“Be careful, stay home. The State is mobilizing at your side”, wrote French President Emmanuel Macron to the islanders of Réunion in a message published on X.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal will go to the crisis center of the Ministry of the Interior at 7pm with Gérald Darmanin to take stock of the prevention operations before the arrival of the cyclone, Matignon announced.
Authorities fear that Belal, which was located just over 200 kilometers northwest of Réunion in the afternoon, will transform into an “intense tropical cyclone” as it passes over the island or its immediate vicinity, at the end of the night or in the morning on Monday.
According to Météo France, winds coming from Belal could exceed 200 km/h on the coast and more than 250 km/h on the highlands of the island, between 200 and 300 mm of precipitation are expected in a few hours, as well as storm surges reaching 8 meters (with even higher maximum waves).
2024-01-14 21:17:00
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