Tropical Cyclone Belal hit Reunion, claims basic needs of people

The French Island of Reunion is on alert as a Tropical Cyclone Belal hit the region on the Indian Ocean on Monday, which resulted in intense rains and strong winds.

It is to be noted that such weather left around a quarter of households without electricity. According to the authorities, about ten thousand homes have no access to water.

Notably, the residents in Reunion were still advised to remain inside their houses or any sheltered places. The highest alert level, I.e., Purple alert, was announced on Sunday by the local administrative officials, which had been lifted after the worst of the storm had passed away.

As per sources, heavy showers and winds up to 170 kilometres per hour (i.e., 105 miles per hour) were expected to blow on the island of about 860,000 people.

The prefecture of Reunion remarked, “Belal’s intensity appeared to be slightly decreasing. Some 8-meter (26 feet) high waves have been recorded.”

The people of the region were not allowed to wander outside as officials suggested people stay at home, and emergency services were under lockdown until the purple alert.

The cyclone shook the basic structure of people’s lives as they lost their access to the internet and phone services. A homeless person who didn’t acquire a sheltered spot was found lifeless in Saint-Gilles on the island’s west coast.

Further, because of this incident, the effects of Cyclone Belal could also be seen in Mauritius as it made its way through the southwestern Indian Ocean. Noting this, the authorities of nearby Mauritius announced a high alert in the country.

It is to be noted that Mauritius’ national meteorological service has forecasted the effects of cyclones in their country. It stated, “On this trajectory, Belal is dangerously approaching Mauritius, and it represents a direct threat to Mauritius. Belal’s outer winds were likely to impact the southern part of the island late Monday and early Tuesday morning.”

Additionally, Cyclones are common between January and March in southern Africa as oceans in the southern hemisphere reach their warmest temperatures. Moreover, the hotter water serves as a fuel for cyclones.

It is worth mentioning that according to scientists, human-caused climate change has made extreme weather even more intense, increasing the number of cyclones and causing more rain when they do hit.

Some climate scientists have identified a direct link between global warming and the intensity of some cyclones in the region.