Mauritius and Réunion – Cyclone Berguitta Brings Heavy Rain and Floods

Tropical Cyclone Berguitta swept across the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Réunion on 18 January, bringing with it torrential rain and sustained winds of over 130 km/h.

A tropical cyclone alert class 3 was issued in Mauritius and an Orange Alert in Réunion. Berguitta has since moved southwest away from the islands, where it is expected to weaken.

Cyclone warnings are no longer in force but Mauritius Meteorological Services warned of high waves of up to 4 metres and some intermittent rainfall.

Mauritius

In Mauritius, water and power supply have been cut and some damage to agriculture was reported. Several areas of the island reported flooding after torrential rain. Mare Aux Vacoas near the town of Curepipe in the southwest of the island recorded more than 240 mm of rain in 24 hours.

Prime Minister Mr Pravind Jugnauth expressed his satisfaction that no major damage has been reported to infrastructure and that there has been no loss in human lives.

This, he said resulted from the fact that the population had been adequately sensitised on the threat that cyclone Berguitta represented to Mauritius and on the precautions that needed to be taken.

The Prime Minister said that the activities of both the airport and port will resume from Friday 19 January.

Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) responded to around 150 calls for assistance, most of them for flooding in particular in Port Louis and areas of Plaines Wilhems District including Chebel, Beau-Bassin Rose-Hill, Quatre-Bornes, Vacoas, Floreal and Curepipe.

Around 15 people were rescued from flood waters in separate incidents in Eau-Coulee, other areas of Plaines Wilhems District and Bambous in Rivière Noire District.

Réunion Island

Some areas of the island recorded more than 800 mm of rain in 24 hours.

In a statement of 18 January the government of Réunion said that the most impacted municipalities are Saint-Leu, Saint-Louis (les Makes), Saint-Pierre, Cilaos (Ilet à cordes). According to local media these areas suffered severe flooding.

In total 150 interventions were made by emergency services and 208 people have been evacuated.

Power supply was cut for around 5,000 people and water supply interrupted for about half the island’s population.

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