Tropical Cyclone Berguitta damage: Thousands without power as storm heads to Mauritius
MAURITIUS is bracing for impact as dangerous Tropical Cyclone Berguitta bears down on the Indian Ocean island nation, with gusts of 120km/h (75mph) expected to lash the island tonight. The airport and port were shut early this morning as a precaution.
Reunion Island braces for incoming tropical cyclone Berguitta
Authorities have raised the warning class to a level 3 cyclone and warned residents to take all precautions and stay safe.
The Meteorological service said: “On this trajectory, tropical cyclone Berguitta is dangerously approaching Mauritius and represents a direct threat to the island .”
Advising locals to prepare an emergency kit of canned and dry food, batteries and water, secure shutters and doors, avoid areas prone to flooding, and if your home is “insecure” head to a cyclone refugee centre as soon as you can.
Locals are also being told to monitor cyclone bulletins on TV/radio.
The storm was around 200 miles north east of Mauritius at sunrise but pictures already show damage to the island.
Posting on Twitter, terrified locals shared images of trees blown over, flooding and broken roofs.
The storm is forecast to strike Mauritius at about 6pm GMT today, and rough sea conditions and strong winds are expected.
The Airport of Mauritius stopped operations at 3am GMT this morning until further notice and the main port has been closed.
If gusts do reach 120km/h authorities could raise the cyclone class to a Class IV - the highest rating - but meteorologists believe the storm is losing a bit of steam.
A spokesman said the most recent wind levels last night were 85mph, a drop from a few hours earlier when they were above 100mph.
Despite this slight dip, AccuWeather Meteorologist AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls has warned that the worst conditions are still to come.
He said: “The storm will batter the island with the most widespread damaging winds and flooding rains on Wednesday and Wednesday night.”
Mauritius and Reunion brace for Tropical Cyclone #Berguitta https://t.co/oN3MlzWFMR Jo pic.twitter.com/JCbYeHPDrx
— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) January 16, 2018
Tropical cyclone Berguitta is dangerously approaching Mauritius and represents a direct threat to the island
The local MetService said: “Wind will blow from the south east at about 50 km/h, strengthening gradually.
“The gusts may reach 120 km/h in the evening. Sea will be high with heavy swells. It is strictly advised not to go out at sea. “
BBC weather presenter Tomasz Schafernaker has warned Tropical Cyclone Berguitta could be the most devastating storms to hit the region since the 1990s.
He said: “Mauritius and Reunion in the Indian Ocean are bracing themselves for the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Berguitta and it could be the most destructive storm since 2002 and possibly since the mid-nineties.
Tropical cyclone #Berguitta is expected to make landfall in #Mauritius on Thursday morning, reaching Reunion during Thursday afternoon #eNCA pic.twitter.com/YvIOA3JzXb
— eNCAWeather (@eNCAWeather) January 17, 2018
Tropical Cyclone Berguitta set to SMASH through Mauritius
“It looks like the core of the storm is likely to track right across the islands bringing the damaging winds.
“There’s already been a lot of heavy rain in the area and the weather is only going to get worse through the course of Wednesday and into Thursday."
The storm is then set to hit La Reunion on Thursday - the mountainous terrain of the island also makes it vulnerable to mudslides.
Tropical Cyclone #Berguitta has weakened over the last day or so, but still expected to pass directly over #Mauritius in the next 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/MEBDdsKbjM
— Met Office Storms (@metofficestorms) January 17, 2018
The Met Office tweeted: "Intense tropical cyclone Berguitta will move southwest to affect the islands of Mauritius and La Reunion over the next 24 hours or so, bringing damaging wind and flooding rain."
Rainfall could reach 8-12 inches across the Indian Ocean islands which could lead to flash flooding.
Tracking maps from Tropical Storm Risk show Berguitta passing over the two islands before bending south, narrowly avoiding Madagascar.
Accuweather’s Adam Douty said the storm could bring heavy rain to southern parts of Madagascar this week, though not enough to cause widespread flooding.