Cyclone garance halts flights, strands tourists in Mauritius
Cyclone Garance is approaching Mauritius, and authorities have been forced to close the island's only airport, leaving tourists unable to depart.
All flights to and from Mauritius have been cancelled. The island's authorities closed the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport on Thursday until further notice due to the approaching Cyclone Garance.
Tourists staying on the island have been advised to avoid the ocean shores as a very dangerous catastrophe is imminent.
Meteorological warnings: Strong winds, expected flooding
Mauritius meteorological services issued a cyclone warning as early as Wednesday, with the storm situated about 170 miles northwest of the island. By Thursday, wind speeds exceeded 43 mph, accompanied by heavy rainfall.
The cyclone is "dangerously approaching Mauritius and constitutes a direct threat," the meteorological service reported. Meteorologists are also warning of floods.
The airport operator, Airports of Mauritius (AML), advises those planning to travel to contact their airlines for flight status information. "Intending passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for further information on the status of their flights and not to proceed to the airport, unless receiving confirmation of the revised departure time," AML announced.
The decision to close the airport was also made by the neighbouring island of Réunion. Authorities on both islands have instructed residents to stay indoors and prepare for power and water outages. People are encouraged to use phones only in "absolutely necessary" situations.
Last year, Mauritius welcomed nearly 1.4 million tourists. Those who chose this destination in late February this year must extend their stay and wait for an improvement in weather conditions.
