Freddy leaves behind partial damage in Mauritius, schools to stay closed on Tuesday

Recovery efforts continued in hard-hit areas of Mauritius on Monday evening after powerful cyclone Freddy caused moderate damage, leaving at least 1,500 households without electricity.

Freddy passed at its closest distance from the island at about 120 km to the north of Grand Bay at around 4pm.

The highest gusts recorded as at 1600 hours were as follows:

Champ de Mars: 126 km/hr

Riche Terre: 100 km/hr

Vacoas: 96 km/hr

Grand Bassin: 94 km/hr

Riviere Noire: 76 km/hr

Plaisance: 78 km/hr

As Freddy partially spared Mauritius, it maintained a west-south-west track towards Madagascar. However, active cloud bands associated with Freddy were still crossing the island giving rainy and gusty weather.  

The Mauritius Meteorological Services have maintained a Class III alert until 4am Tuesday 21 February 2023.

Nonetheless, while communication and access to a number of areas remained difficult – particularly at Anse la Raie and Post Lafayette – surveillance patrols to survey the damage were expected to pursue on Tuesday morning.

Anwar Husnoo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Government – he also heads the National Crisis Committee – announced all schools (pre-primary, primary, secondary, tertiary, MITD centres) would remain closed on Tuesday 21 February 2023.

However, school officials and non-teaching staff would still required to report to their workplaces to assess the situation.

“As for others, once we get relevant feedback around 6am, we will decide what to do,” the Minister  said.

At 4am on Tuesday, Mauritius Met Office is expected to issue a ‘Safety Bulletin’ – a new warning that follows the lifting the cyclone warning class III.

During that phase, the public will be kept informed of the existence of any severe weather conditions associated with the cyclone and other environment risk, depending on the nature and extent of the damage occurred during the passage of the cyclone.

Nurseries and daycare centres will become operational only if the ‘Safety Bulletin’ will be lifted, said the Minister of Family Welfare and Gender Equality.

The Met Office has advised the public to maintain all precautions and to stay in safe places.

“Scattered showers, moderate to heavy at times with thunderstorms, were still to be expected. Wind will blow from the east north east at a speed of about 60 km/h with gusts that may reach 120 km/h,” it said.

“Sea will be high with heavy swells of the order of 7 metres beyond the reefs. Storm surge will continue to cause inundation along the low lying coastal areas.  It is, therefore, strictly advised not to go at sea.”

Sources: Defi Media, l’Express, Mauritius Met Office