A cyclone of rare intensity crossed Reunion this Monday, January 15 and could cause significant damage. So much so that the local population is confined and the level of vigilance is at its highest – purple alert -, with major consequences.
“Be careful, stay at home. The State is mobilized at your side”posted the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron on the social network cyclone Belal on the island of The meeting. Strong winds that can exceed 200km/h on the coast and even reach the 250 km/h on heights are forecast, as well as waves that can rise up to 12-15 meters high, depending on Meteo France. “Belal should directly impact and cross” Reunion Island according to the latest forecasts from meteorologists who have just reassessed the alert level previously changed to red, and now colored violet. It is the highest alert level !
The Réunion prefecture informs its residents, including on social networks where there is talk of a “imminent danger!” from 6 a.m. local time (3 a.m. in mainland France). Which implies restrictions and an increased level of vigilance : the population is purely and simply confined. “Do not go out under any circumstances even if the weather calms down. It is probably the eye of the storm”we specify, while emphasizing the need to “To cut the electricity” and no longer drink tap water.
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The population and emergency services confined
The purple alert which extends to the entire island of Reunion this Monday, January 15 involves a series of measures, while the Prefect of the Republic speaks of a “a phenomenon undoubtedly even more intense than what we could imagine Saturday when we gave references to 10 years, 20 years”. All movement is strictly prohibited until further notice, we ask to only use telephones in cases of extreme necessity and to take refuge in “the safest room” homes, while remaining “far from openings”. The purple alert threshold also includes the confinement of emergency services who can therefore no longer intervene, either. In other words, Reunion Islanders are left to their own devices for several hours.
Meteo France also indicates that the alert level should then be reassessed and adopt the color red during the day. It was already in force this Sunday, January 14, from 8 p.m. on the island (5 p.m. in mainland France), and puts an end to all cultural, economic or sporting activities. Any demonstration is also prohibited during this time. But, before thinking about the consequences of the cyclone, for the Prefect of the Republic Jérôme Filippini, “It is now that the hard things begin“, he said about an hour ago. This is evidenced by the first photos and videos of the premises shared on social networks.
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Impressive first images
On X, we can see that the inhabitants are preparing for the passage of Belal. “It’s getting dangerously close and it can be heard and seen!” Or “The day is coming, the cyclone #belal has not yet arrived and yet outside it’s already very very impressive and worrying !”, we can read among others. Others ask videographers to “to protect yourself” instead of staying camped at the window. For his part, the newly appointed Prime Minister – Gabriel Attal – declared at the same time that all his “thoughts” were going “to the inhabitants of Reunion faced with a terrible cyclone”. “Thank you to all our public officials on deck to protect our fellow citizens”he insisted.
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