“While Cyclone Batsirai is just beginning to move away from Reunion, we are currently experiencing the worst weather conditions since the start of the episode,” said Emmanuel Cloppet, regional director of Météo-France, during an interview. a press briefing at the start of the evening, local time, in Saint-Denis-de-la-Réunion.
Richard BOUHET/AFP
He thus evokes strong winds going “up to 150 km / hour in the heights”, and already more than 500 mm of rain recorded in the circuses and 1,200 mm in the massif of the volcano.
“The deterioration will continue in the evening. The red alert therefore remains in full force tonight”, and “everyone must remain confined”, added the prefect of the island, Jacques Billant, who only plans to lift the red alert “tomorrow (Friday) at 9 a.m. local time (6 a.m.).
However, “this hypothesis will require confirmation from me tomorrow morning with regard to the evolution of the hurricane system”, he specified, recalling that “the hurricane system has reserved some surprises for us by staying longer than expected in the north Of the reunion “.
The island was placed on hurricane red alert on Wednesday, requiring residents to barricade themselves. “Raise the red alert does not therefore mean a return to normal”, specified the prefect Billant, travel will remain “strongly discouraged”, “except in cases of force majeure”.
The prefect again asked the 860,000 inhabitants of the island to remain vigilant in terms of floods and rising waters. He deplored twelve injured during the night from Wednesday to Thursday, whose vital prognosis is not engaged, and listed Thursday evening 38 interventions.
An oil tanker runs aground
In addition, a Mauritian oil tanker sailing empty ran aground and the rescuers are trying to save the eleven sailors on board.
“The Mauritian ship TrestaStar is stranded in the town of Saint-Philippe 30 meters from the coast. Sdis rescue teams are on site. An attempted evacuation operation is underway in very difficult conditions, ”said the prefect Thursday evening on Twitter. “The sailors are safe and sound. They are still on board the stranded boat, ”added the prefecture, specifying that 32 people, rescuers and medical teams, were involved in this evacuation.