The sole airport in Mauritius is scheduled to shut down from Wednesday evening until further notice after the country’s meteorological services raised a cyclone warning to Class III for the first time in the current summer season.
Banks, the stock exchange and non-essential services’ offices are currently closed as Wednesday is a public holiday. They will have to remain shut if the warning remains in place.
Also read | PM Narendra Modi to be guest of honour at Mauritius' National Day, to visit on March 11-12
Garance, a severe tropical storm located off the northwestern coast of the Indian Ocean island nation, is expected to reach tropical-cyclone intensity, the meteorological services said, meaning winds could reach 165 kilometers (102 miles) per hour. “Garance constitutes a direct threat to the island,” it said.
Also read | UK and Mauritius say ‘good progress’ made in Chagos Islands talks
While the first two months of the year are usually the country’s wettest, January has been the second-driest in the past 25 years, with the rainfall just 30% of the long-term mean. The lack of rain and dwindling water levels in major reservoirs prompted the government to impose restrictions on usage for non-essential activities.
{{/usCountry}}While the first two months of the year are usually the country’s wettest, January has been the second-driest in the past 25 years, with the rainfall just 30% of the long-term mean. The lack of rain and dwindling water levels in major reservoirs prompted the government to impose restrictions on usage for non-essential activities.
{{/usCountry}}