Batsirai slows down, Reunion Island on Red Alert

Tropical cyclone Batsirai passed within about 130 kilometres (80 miles) of Mauritius on Wednesday afternoon, bringing heavy downpours and winds of around 120 kilometres per hour, with a peak of 155 kilometres per hour recorded at Domaine Les Pailles. Gusts of 151 km/hr were recorded in Port Louis. 

It is moving towards the west south west at a reduced speed of about 10 km/h.

Active clouds bands are still crossing the island with moderate intermittent rain and gusts exceeding 120 km/h in certain places.

The Class IV was maintained by the Mauritius Met Office on Wednesday evening, but there are strong chances that the cyclone warning be lifted early on Thursday morning.

Thousands of homes were without power after the winds knocked down trees onto electricity lines, according to the Central Electricity Board. The telephone network was also disrupted.

The reopening of schools, closed since November because of the spread of the Covid variant Omicron, could not take place on Thursday 03 February as planned.

“Cyclonic conditions will persist on the island until late evening,” said a statement from the weather service.

After Mauritius, nearby Reunion Island is not getting to face the fury of Batsirai – it is already on red alert.

Last week, tropical Storm Ana claimed the lives of 86 people in Mozambique, Madagascar and Malawi.