PORT LOUIS: Mauritius raised its cyclone warning alert to the maximum level on Tuesday, urging residents to stay indoors as Tropical Storm Belal approached. The Mauritius Meteorological Service (MMS) reported gusts of winds reaching up to approximately 120 kilometers (74 miles) per hour, impacting the remote island. Despite the intensification of the cyclone warning to level 4, the highest level, the MMS indicated that Belal was moving away from Mauritius.
The agency advised the public to maintain all necessary precautions and remain indoors until further notice. In an update at around 7:00 am (0300 GMT), the MMS noted a rise in barometric pressure, suggesting that Belal had already crossed its closest distance from Mauritius. However, cyclonic winds associated with the storm were still affecting the island.
Severe Tropical Storm Belal is currently centered about 150 kilometers (93 miles) south-southeast of Mauritius, moving eastwards at a speed of approximately 15 kilometers per hour, according to the MMS. The storm had previously battered the French overseas territory of Reunion, resulting in one fatality.
