Mauritius cyclone satellite tracker: Rodrigues SMASHED by Cyclone Gelena – SHOCK charts

Cyclone Gelena made its closest approach to Rodrigues on Saturday, after tracking further north than expected. The category three cyclone was packing hurricane-force winds and generating powerful storm surge. The small island is now picking up the pieces as the storm moves away, leaving devastation in its wake.

No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported from the storm but more than 100 people remain in evacuation centres.

Widespread flooding hit the region, with fallen trees blocking roads and a major cleanup beginning.

Power was knocked out across 90 percent of the tiny island, with just more than 40,000 residents affected.

There is expected to be some damage to homes and phone networks remain down.

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At its peak, Gelena was packing maximum sustained winds of 109mph, the equivalent to a category 2 storm on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

At 10am local time (6am GMT), the storm was centred around 400 miles east-southeast of Mauritius, said the Mauritius Meteorological Services (MMS).

The storm is tracking away from the region now and will dissipate as it heads further over the ocean.

Heavy swells generated by Gelena are beginning to dissipate as the storm peters out.

MMS expects the weather to begin settling over the next 24 hours.

Temperatures will be around the 30C mark and while a few showers remain from the tail end of the cyclone, these won’t be widespread.

However, the seas will remain rough and authorities are urging caution.

The MMS said: “Seas will be rough with swells around three metres beyond the reefs.

“Ventures in the open sea as well as in the Eastern and Southern lagoons are not advised.”

The warning has now been rescinded but flights remain grounded until the final hazards have passed.

Plaine Corail airport is still shut to air traffic and has advised passengers it won’t reopen until authorities declare it safe to do so.

Mauritius hasn’t seen a major cyclone since Cyclone Hollanda hit in 1994.

Holland claimed two lives and left some $135 million (£100 million) in damage to the region.

source: express.co.uk