The scars of cyclone Batsarai are still visible, but the inhabitants of Reunion must already prepare for the passage of Emnati, which should skirt the north of the coast more than 300 km.

The red hurricane alert was declared on the island on Sunday February 20.

"Everyone must confine themselves from 9 p.m. (6 p.m. in mainland France) and until further notice" and "gather together in the most protected room with all the basic necessities", declared the prefect Jacques Billant during a update in the middle of the afternoon.

The municipalities have opened emergency accommodation centers and "no one should stay outside this (Sunday) evening", insisted the representative of the State who anticipates traffic conditions "particularly dangerous, especially at dawn".

The main traffic artery in the northwest of the island, the coastal road was closed in one direction and could be completely closed at 9 p.m.

The flights scheduled for Monday morning have, for their part, been postponed, when all schools will be closed for the day on Monday.

Of the 3,000 homes without electricity on Sunday morning, another 1,500 were in the afternoon, with EDF services being on the ground to restore them, said the prefect.

Two cyclones in a row

If Emnati will remain "at a distance greater than 300 km" north of the coast, the cyclone "will cause a significant deterioration in weather conditions" with strong winds expected up to 120 km / h on the coast and 140 km / h at the interior of the island overnight, said local director of Météo-France Emmanuel Cloppet, describing an "intense tropical cyclone".

About 400mm of rain has already fallen in the past 24 hours, he said, rainfall "admittedly less than Batsirai but significant".

In early February, the passage of this previous cyclone near the island caused enormous damage, estimated at 47 million euros for farms alone, before dramatically hitting Madagascar where 120 people died.

Twenty municipalities in Reunion have been classified as in a natural disaster situation and a Mauritian ship ran aground, causing the beginning of marine pollution.

Operations to prevent it had to be halted upon Emnati's arrival.

“We have never known” two cyclones so close together, noted the prefect.

With AFP

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