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Added on the 15/05/2023 07:23:13 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
As cyclone Belal hits French island Reunion, broken tree branches litter the ground and residents hunker down in their homes under a strict lockdown in the town of Saint Gilles-les-Hauts. Belal isn't as intense of a storm as originally forecast and cyclone alert was downgraded from purple, its highest level, to red at 1pm local time to allow emergency services to intervene and assess the damage. IMAGES
The ocean is choppy, and gusts of wind blow through palm trees in Saint-Leu, as cyclone Belal hits France's island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean this morning. The eye of the storm passed over the island, avoiding causing any major damages according to French national weather service Meteo-France. Alert level has been lowered from purple to red. IMAGES
The French island of Reunion in the South Indian Ocean is going back to red alert level to enable rescue teams to intervene and assess the damage caused by cyclone Belal, announces local State representative Jerome Filippini. Cyclone Belal has battered the island this morning with wind gusts in excess of 165km/h recorded. SOUNDBITE
"At least 800,000 people in the path of the cyclone need emergency food assistance" says Anthea Webb, the World Food Programme's deputy director for Asia and the Pacific. Reporting on the impact of Cyclone Mocha five days after the devastating storm barrelled through Myanmar, Webb adds that "greater needs for food, shelter, water, health and other humaniarian aid are expected to be revealed". Earlier on Friday, Myanmar's ruling junta said the death toll had risen to 145 in the country. SOUNDBITE
Heavy rains and winds intensify in Bangladesh's southern-most border town, Teknaf, after Cyclone Mocha hit the South Asian nation and neighbouring Myanmar, packing winds of up to 195 kilometres (120 miles) per hour. IMAGES ++ COMPLETES WITH VIDI_33F23FD ++