Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: CEDRICK ISHAM CALVADOS / AFP 22:15 p.m., October 21, 2023

The lockdown in Guadeloupe, decided due to the passage of Hurricane Tammy, was lifted this Saturday at 21 p.m., Paris time. Placed for nearly 5 hours and 30 minutes in purple cyclone alert, the highest level, Guadeloupe has been downgraded to grey alert.

The prefect of Guadeloupe announced on Saturday shortly before 15 p.m. (21 p.m. in Paris) the end of the lockdown of this French department of the West Indies, "in view of the trajectory of Hurricane Tammy which is leading it to move away" from the archipelago. Placed for nearly 5 hours and 30 minutes in purple cyclone alert, the highest level, Guadeloupe has been downgraded to grey alert by the prefect of the region Xavier Lefort.

"This phase puts an end to the lockdown and allows a resumption of traffic as well as economic activities," said a statement from the prefecture, adding that "nevertheless, the conditions for returning to normal life must be done gradually."

In view of the trajectory of #Tammy which is moving away from the #Guadeloupe the prefect has decided:
▶️to go on grey cyclone
▶️alert, orange alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms and waves-submersion
▶️, yellow alert for strong winds.
+ more info https://t.co/w3u9LEs1cApic.twitter.com/8RdXtLyUVR

— Prefect of Guadeloupe (@Prefet971) October 21, 2023

The phenomenon is not yet over

"If the danger is mitigated, the phenomenon is not completely over," the state services said. The prefect has therefore decided to place the archipelago on orange alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms as well as for waves-submersion, and yellow for strong winds. A category 1 hurricane, Tammy passed east of the island of La Désirade, itself located east of Grande-Terre in the Guadeloupean archipelago.

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At around 13 p.m. (19 p.m. in Paris), the small island town of some 1,400 inhabitants was without electricity "on 80%" of its territory, its mayor Loïc Tonton said in a message sent to AFP, referring to "strong gusts of wind". The weather phenomenon is not over. In a forecast bulletin issued at 14:45 p.m. (20:45 p.m. in Paris), Météo-France indicates that "showers" gradually gaining the entire archipelago "can be strong and lasting and are accompanied by thunderstorms".