Cyclone Belal: Flooding as storm hits France’s Réunion and heads for Mauritius | Oneindia News - video Dailymotion

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On Monday morning (Jan 15), the French island of La Reunion in the Indian Ocean declared its highest-level cyclone alert, prompting a strict lockdown for its residents. Urging citizens to remain indoors, cut power, and avoid using tap water, authorities took extensive measures as Cyclone Belal swept through the territory. Regrettably, reports confirm the storm's toll, resulting in the loss of one life. On Monday, Cyclone Belal hit Reunion, one of France’s overseas territories in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar is said to be moving in from the northwest packing "extreme winds," according to Meteo-France. The island territory issued its highest cyclone warning for the first time since 1989. "The eye of the storm is passing over Reunion Island, starting from the northern part" (DISPLAY ON SCREEN) said France’s weather agency, in its recent update.     #CycloneBelal #StormImpact #LaReunionAlert #MauritiusPrepares #ExtremeWeather #VioletAlert #CyclonicWaves #EmergencyLockdown #WeatherUpdate #RedCrossResponse #DisasterPreparedness #NaturalDisaster #MeteoFrance #StormSafety #FloodedCities #HumanitarianResponse #WeatherWarning #StaySafeMauritius #CycloneImpact #ExtremeWeatherConditions                 ~HT.99~PR.152~ED.103~

Transcript

00:00 On January 15, the French island of La Reunion in the Indian Ocean declared its highest level

00:08 cyclone alert, prompting a strict lockdown for its residents.

00:12 Urging citizens to remain indoors, cut power and avoid using tap water, authorities took

00:17 extensive measures as Cyclone Bilal swept through the territory.

00:22 Regrettably, reports confirmed the storm's toll, resulting in the loss of one life.

00:27 On Monday, Cyclone Bilal hit Reunion, one of France's overseas territories in the Indian

00:32 Ocean, east of Madagascar, is set to be moving in from the northwest, packing extreme winds,

00:37 according to Meteo France.

00:39 On Monday, Cyclone Bilal hit Reunion, one of France's overseas territories in the Indian

00:44 Ocean, east of Madagascar, and is set to be moving in from the northwest, packing extreme

00:50 winds, according to Meteo France.

00:52 The island territory issued its highest cyclone warning for the first time since 1989.

00:58 The eye of the storm is passing over Reunion Island, starting from the northern part, said

01:03 France's weather agency in its recent update.

01:05 Prefect Jérôme Filippini, the highest-ranking Paris-appointed official on the island, provided

01:10 an update on the situation to France Inter, a major French public radio channel.

01:15 According to Filippini, the initial damage from Cyclone Bilal was still deemed moderate.

01:19 Tragically, he reported the loss of one life, noting that the victim was a homeless individual

01:23 in the resort village of Saint-Gilles, who had not sought shelter during the storm.

01:28 The cyclone's winds, anticipated to surpass 250 km/h in the highlands, led officials to

01:33 enforce a strict lockdown for La Reunion's 870,000 inhabitants, including emergency services.

01:40 Urging residents to take refugee in the safest rooms of their homes, the local prefect's

01:44 office disseminated the message through social media channels to ensure the safety of the

01:48 island's population amid the ongoing cyclone impact.

01:52 The statement added, "Do not go out on whatever pretext, even if the weather is calm.

01:57 This is probably the eye of the cyclone."

02:00 Under the violent alert, France's most severe classification, residents are under strict

02:04 lockdown from 6 a.m. local time as Cyclone Bilal impacts La Reunion.

02:09 Meteo France forecasts cyclonic sea waves reaching heights of 12 to 15 meters.

02:14 Social media platforms witnessed a surge in posts on Monday morning, with individuals

02:18 sharing images and videos of the cyclone.

02:20 The extent of damage from the intense winds and rainfall, however, remained unclear.

02:26 Cyclone Bilal is now on a trajectory towards Mauritius, according to the International

02:29 Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Africa.

02:33 The humanitarian organization shared visuals of the flood-affected capital city of Port

02:37 Louis, emphasizing the readiness of the Mauritius Red Cross to assist local authorities.

02:42 As the cyclone approaches, Mauritius is taking precautions, and officials have described

02:46 it as "dangerously approaching" after its impact on French overseas territory.

02:50 The Mauritius Meteorological Service has issued a Level 3 warning for the cyclone, urging

02:55 people to stay in safe places due to the anticipated torrential rain conditions in the upcoming

03:00 hours.

03:01 "

03:07 (upbeat music)

Cyclone Belal: Flooding as storm hits France’s Réunion and heads for Mauritius | Oneindia News

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