PARIS (Reuters) – The French island of La Réunion was placed under a maximum-level cyclone alert on Monday morning and citizens were urged to stay inside, cut power, stop using tap water and stay in the safest room of their houses due to a cyclone named Belal.
"Take refuge in the safest room of your homes", the local prefect's office said on social media, adding: "Do not go out on whatever pretext, even if the weather is calm. This is probably the eye of the cyclone."
Under the so-called violet alert, France's most serious, even emergency services on the island – in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar – are not allowed to leave their bases from 6 am (0200 GMT).
On social media, users on Monday morning posted first videos of heavy winds and rainfall, while the actual damage caused by the cyclone hitting the shores of the island wasn't immediately clear.
According to Meteo France, the storm is expected to reach its peak on Monday, with speeds of around 200 kilometres per hour (124 miles per hour) at low altitudes, and 250 kph in inhabited areas located higher up the island. Cyclonic sea waves of up to 12-15 metres (39-49 feet) are also expected.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin were attending a Paris crisis centre on Sunday to follow the situation the island is facing.