After Mayotte Belna arrives on Majunga

End of red alert in Mayotte. The red alert was lifted on Sunday evening in Mayotte, after the passage of the Cyclone Belna closest to the French island of the Indian Ocean, announced the prefecture.

"The cyclone passed 100 km from the mahoraisecoast coast. Its radius is 60 km, which limited the effects to rains", explained in a tweet the prefect Jean-François Colombet.

The State Services did not immediately report any immediate assessment of the possible damage caused by the cyclone, which finally went further offshore than feared from the 101st French department.

10.000 to 15.000 people sheltered.

Mayotte had been placed on red alert in the afternoon, and the inhabitants had been instructed to remain confined.

Earlier in the day, the prefect had pointed out that " 10.000 to 15.000 people (Were) housed in all shelter centres" and that “generally people respect (have) the ban on driving », in effect since 4 p.m..

“The containment measures are effective, be VERY careful”, tweeted Jean-François Colombet, while state services called on residents to “not go out under any circumstances”.

The prefect had decided in the morning to “shelter all populations who are exposed”. The police and municipal services immediately began contacting the Mahorais to convince them to evacuate the most threatened areas..

An “exceptional” phenomenon

In this same area, foreign residents reported rumours that their status as illegal immigrants could result in deportation if they joined the shelters. In this archipelago of 374 IMP, became a French department in 2011, 48 % of 256.000 inhabitants are foreigners according to INSEE, whose 95 % Comorians.

The Belna phenomenon is "exceptional for Mayotte", according to the prefect. "Since then, 50 years, this will be the third time that Mayotte will pass so close to the effects of a cyclone".

The neighbouring archipelago of Comoros and the island of Madagascar have been placed on cyclone alert orange and yellow respectively, as the cyclone could hit both countries on Monday, announced the authorities.

Northwest coast of Madagascar on red alert

TO 7 hours (Madagascar time) This Monday 09 December, the centre of Cyclone Belna was about 140 km northwest of Majunga. The system with a very fluctuating intensity, was still classified as a tropical cyclone at the last point made by the CMRS of Reunion on the night. Although the stage of intense cyclone is no longer envisaged in the immediate future, it is still a dangerous phenomenon that should land on Malagasy lands during this day on Monday.

Belna is expected to directly impact the northwest coast of Madagascar to the east or near Majunga in the afternoon. Given the looming threat, Mahajanga I-II, Marovoay, Mitsinjo, Soalala and Besalampy have been red alert since last night. Reunion CMRS warns that the Northwest Region of the Big Island is particularly exposed to the risk of storm tide. An abnormal sea level rise of up to 2 metres is possible near the point of impact. Heavy rains are also expected in the vicinity of the impact zone.

For this purpose, Coco Lodge Majunga calls on all Majunga residents to be vigilant. Let's stay safe.

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