Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Gaël Rangain
Published on 2024-03-02 10:30:23
The National Emergency Operations Command (NEOC) could be activated this weekend, as the Meteorological Services has announced a deterioration in the weather. The Vacoas station has issued a Severe Weather Bulletin with the presence of a low-pressure system forming near Madagascar. Active clouds could therefore reach Mauritius on Saturday afternoon, bringing moderate to heavy rains.
There are also risks of water accumulation and flooding in usual places. The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Centre (NDRRMC) has taken note of these elements and certain measures have been taken to prepare for any eventuality. Special arrangements could be made, especially in the Grand-Bassin region, where pilgrims are expected to converge in large numbers starting from this Saturday. Teams from the Special Mobile Force (SMF) and the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) are already on site and will take necessary actions in consultation with the authorities.
As for the other regions of the island, the aforementioned units will also remain vigilant. The necessary logistics, including vehicles, are already prepared to cope with the possible weekend weather conditions. The police, on their part, are informing pilgrims who are walking and may advise them against using certain routes for safety reasons. This will depend, of course, on the weather developments. In the meantime, the police will conduct patrols in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas, such as Chitrakoot, Vallée-Pitot, Bambous, and Rose-Belle.
In Port-Louis, units from the Special Support Unit (SSU) will be stationed in high-risk areas, particularly in streets like La-Poudrière, La-Chaussée, and John Kennedy, as soon as the Meteorological Services issues a special statement. Parking will also be prohibited. The NDRRMC and the authorities may even temporarily close these streets to the public if the situation demands it. The NDRRMC also calls for vigilance, especially due to the risk of thunderstorms. The same goes for motorists, as fog is expected in certain areas. In case of emergency, the public can contact the police (999/148), the fire department (115), and the emergency medical services (114).
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
