Cyclone Freddy with 180 km/h winds hit Madagascar! Storm surges in Mauritius

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On Tuesday, Tropical Cyclone Freddy made landfall on the east coast of Madagascar, after brushing Mauritius with powerful winds and heavy rain.

The cyclone packed winds gusting to 180 kilometers per hour, with waves higher than 15 meters battering the coast. Locals in the eastern coast were seen reinforcing roofs with sandbags to prevent them from being blown away. Schools, businesses and public transportation shut down as strong winds and rain lashed the island.

Meanwhile, Mauritius cancelled flights and closed its stock exchange Monday as an intense tropical cyclone approached the Indian Ocean island nation, bringing rainfall and gusty winds with it.

Images and videos from the remote paradise island showed waves crashing to the shore and the wind whipping through palm trees. About a quarter of households were without electricity Tuesday morning. After making landfall, Freddy will cross the centre of the country during the night and is expected to exit the Mozambique Channel in the southwest region on Wednesday afternoon.

Local agency warned citizens to stay away from the sea because the weather conditions will worsen due to the Freddy-generated waves. The public is advised to maintain all precautions and to stay in safe places. About a dozen storms or cyclones occur each year in the southwest Indian Ocean during the November to April season.


The channel lists such natural disasters as:
1) Geological emergencies: Earthquake, Volcanic eruption, Mud, Landslide, Avalanche;
2) Hydrological emergencies: Flood, Tsunami, Limnological disaster,
3) Fires: Forest fire, Peat fire;
4) Meteorological emergencies: Tornado, Cyclone, Blizzard, Hail, Drought, Tornado, Hail, Hurricane, Tsunami, Storm, Thunderstorm, Tempest.

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