Mauritius grounds flights, shuts Stock Exchange as Freddy approaches

Mauritius on Monday grounded flights and shut its stock exchange as Tropical Cyclone Freddy approached, posing a “direct threat” to the island.

A Class III cyclone warning was in force in Mauritius, allowing about six hours of daylight before the occurrence of wind gusts of 120 kilometres per hour.

“There shall be no trading and clearing and settlement” on Monday, the Stock Exchange of Mauritius said in a statement. 

Air Mauritius cancelled all its flights from/to Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Johannesburg, London Heathrow, Paris and Reunion Island.

Mauritius Met Office said in a bulletin issued at 1310 local time that at its closest distance, Freddy may pass at about 120 km to the north-northwest of the island late around 1700, saying it represented a direct threat.

“As Freddy approaches Mauritius, (a) storm surge is likely to cause coastal inundation in risk areas. It is, therefore, strictly advised not to go at sea,” the bulletin said.

Source: Reuters, Mauritius Met Office