Tamarin’s Shoreline Submerged: 5 Trees Down, Beach Gone

The public beach in Tamarin, Mauritius, is unrecognizable. The stretch of sand where locals and tourists would relax has been completely submerged underwater due to the increasing sea levels, causing dangerous erosion.

The waves now crash against the base of the trees, which were previously 10-15 meters away from the sea. It’s no longer possible to camp or organize beach parties like people used to do in the past.

The situation has been exacerbated by the passage of Cyclone Belall, which brought a record high tide that flooded the streets outside the Véranda Hotel.

According to a local business owner, “When we returned to our workplace, the beach was unrecognizable.

There were debris everywhere and several shops had been inundated. Luckily, our shop was spared. But since the cyclone, the beach has disappeared under the water.”

The rise in sea levels has also caused dangerous erosion. Five large trees have fallen over, with some of them crashing into the water just inches from swimmers.

“One day, we saw a tree swaying precariously,” recalled a local restaurateur. “It was impressive!

A few minutes later, the tree came crashing down into the water between two groups of swimmers. They were lucky because the tree fell right in front of them.”

As a precautionary measure, yellow warning tapes have been installed around the at-risk trees.

The sand that once held them in place has almost entirely been washed away, revealing massive roots that are barely keeping them upright.

“We expected the beach to recover after the cyclone,” said a local business owner. “But several weeks have passed and the situation seems to be getting worse.

We’re worried about new tree falls. Maybe authorities should consider installing sandbags to stop the erosion, like they did on La-Preneuse Beach.”

The loss of the beach has not only affected tourism but also poses a serious threat to local businesses and residents who rely on the area for recreation and economic activities.

It is essential for authorities to take immediate action to address this issue and find a solution to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels on this beloved public beach.

Source: Le Mauricien