Africa-Press – Mauritius. In its sixth cyclone bulletin issued this afternoon at 16 10 hours, the Mauritius Meteorological Services maintained its cyclone warning class III for Mauritius.
According to the Met Services tropical cyclone Batsirai was centred at about 410 km to the north-east of Mauritius, in latitude 17.2 degrees South and longitude 60.2 degrees East.
It is moving in a direction between the south-west and west-south-west at about 15 km/h. On this trajectory, tropical cyclone Batsirai is approaching Mauritius and constitutes a direct threat to the Island.
Since Batsirai is of small diameter, the maximum wind is confined within 30 km radius of the Centre. However, outer cloud bands are likely to cross the Island as from late tonight triggering heavy rain and strong gusts reaching 120 km/h.
Any further recurvature of the trajectory towards the south will bring the centre even closer to Mauritius with increased risk of having cyclonic conditions over the Island.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre (NDRRMC) is closely monitoring the situation and has, this morning, launched Level III: Full scale activation of the National Emergency Operations Command (NEOC), which is the main coordinating multi-agency, comprising representatives from Ministries/Departments, other emergency services, and private sectors concerned with the preparedness, response and recovery phases of any disaster.
The public is therefore strongly invited to keep abreast of the evolution of the situation and to complete preparations in view of the degradation of the weather associated with the passage of this cyclone.
People are furthermore strongly advised not to venture at sea. According to the NEOC, the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Services has effected 16 interventions concerning falling of trees and branches since this morning.
Emergency services, namely the Mauritius Police Force, the Special Mobile Force, the Special Supporting Unit, the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Services, and the National Coast Guard, are mobilising across the island to assist the population if need be.
The weather will be cloudy with intermittent rain more frequent to the east, the south and the central plateau. A marked deterioration of the weather is expected late tonight with thundery showers
Wind will blow from the south-east at a speed of about 50 km/h with gusts of the order of 100 km/h strengthening gradually late tonight. The wind gusts may exceed 120 km/h early tomorrow morning The sea will be high with swells of 7 metres. The public is strongly advised not to venture at sea.
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