Heavy rains cause severe flooding on La Digue
25-January-2014
La Digue has been declared a disaster area, after the plateau regions flooded from heavy rainfall during Thursday evening and early yesterday morning.
According to the Met Office a maximum of 220mm of rain recorded from midnight until 7am yesterday resulted in severe flooding with the La Passe and Anse Reunion regions being the most affected.
The situation is expected to worsen as more rain is expected during the weekend.
First responder agencies in the country have been mobilised and the Division of Risk and Disaster Management’s (DRDM) Command Centre has been activated to coordinate the responses.
The emergency unit in the Ministry of Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports were deployed on the scene since 5am to help residents whose houses had been flooded.
Officers from the police and the Ministry of Environment together with the Red Cross were also mobilised and have been clearing drains and gutters in the area since then as well as helping affected residents.
Following the activation of the National Command Centre, the Minister for Environment and Energy, Professor Rolph Payet and the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport Minister Joel Morgan joined the Minister for Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Vincent Meriton, principal secretary for Community Development Denis Rose as well as other concerned parties on La Digue where they chaired a coordination meeting with all first responders on the island. The meeting discussed how disaster responders and key stakeholders can work better together to effectively prevent the situation from worsening.
Minister Payet noted that all key responders have been mobilised to find ways to reduce the impacts of flooding as it was still raining heavily.
The DRDM said many houses have been affected by the flooding and this has worsened as the plateau of La Digue already had stagnant water from continuous rainfall over the past week. Measures have been taken to divert water into the sea.
Sandbags were being used to protect households.
A case of landslide and fallen trees has been reported at Belle Vue and the situation is being addressed.
Meanwhile the public is being advised to drink bottled water and to boil tap water for other household use.
Residents are being advised to stay indoors and to call DRDM on 4672200 for any help they may need.
The Ministry of Education is also advising parents that the school has been closed until further notice.
Meanwhile there have also been reports of flooding and two cases of landslide at Pointe Larue.
The Emergency Brigade was called in early yesterday morning to help pump water at the Police Academy.
The accompanying photographs show some of the affected areas on La Digue.
Source: NATION 1-25-14