Rédaction Africa Links 24 with nation.sc
Published on 2024-03-04 08:34:05
The heavy rainfall that began on Friday afternoon and continued until early Saturday caused damage in five districts in the Central and North regions of Mahé, including widespread flooding, landslides, and water entering homes in some areas.
The affected districts included Anse Etoile, Mont Buxton, English River, Glacis, Beau Vallon, and St Louis. Local government and community affairs authorities were on the ground to provide necessary assistance. Anse Etoile district saw significant landslides in many areas, especially along the hillsides, where work was needed to remove mud and debris to unblock traffic. The road connecting Zil Perseverance with the district was also flooded overnight, requiring the police to close the road on Saturday morning for residents to work on clearing the water.
The houses in danger zones were also flooded, but due to being built on elevated foundations, water did not enter inside. Efforts were made to pump out the water from these areas. In Mont Buxton district, the Karoutsou road up to Dan Lenn was completely closed on Saturday following a major landslide that occurred. Several smaller landslides and road blockages were also reported in other areas of the district.
In St Louis and Beau Vallon districts, there were reports of landslides and flooding, especially on the roads where traffic was affected, and motorists were instructed to use alternative routes. The Transport Authority also issued a warning on Saturday morning to avoid using the Ile Aurore road, which was completely flooded.
According to the Seychelles Meteorological Authority, the rainfall during this short period from Friday afternoon to around noon was particularly intense, with 229 millimeters of rain recorded at Ma Constance, exceeding the normal average rainfall record for March of 194 millimeters. The authorities noted that the country is still in the rainy season and heavy rainfall is expected to continue.
The heavy rainfall persisted on Sunday and disrupted traffic, with several areas experiencing road closures, such as the Sans Soucis road near the Copolia area, which was completely closed after a large tree fell across the road.
Overall, the impact of the heavy rainfall in these districts highlighted the vulnerability of the island nation to such extreme weather events and the importance of preparedness and response measures.
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