Draft:Cyclone Belal: Difference between revisions

As the system developed, the MFR issued a yellow cyclone pre-alert for [[Réunion]] on 13 January,<ref>{{cite web |date=12 January 2024 |title=Dépression tropicale n°02 : Pre-alerte jaune cyclonique à La Réunion |url=https://meteofrance.re/fr/actualites/depression-tropicale-ndeg02-pre-alerte-jaune-cyclonique-la-reunion |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112223648/https://meteofrance.re/fr/actualites/depression-tropicale-ndeg02-pre-alerte-jaune-cyclonique-la-reunion |archive-date=12 January 2024 |access-date=12 January 2024 |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |lang=fr}}</ref> which was upgraded to an orange cyclone alert on 15:00 UTC the next day.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 January 2024 |title=Belal Alerte orange cyclonique : « Je me prépare » |url=https://www.reunion.gouv.fr/Actualites/Urgences/Belal-Alerte-orange-cyclonique-Je-me-prepare |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113162252/https://www.reunion.gouv.fr/Actualites/Urgences/Belal-Alerte-orange-cyclonique-Je-me-prepare |archive-date=13 January 2024 |access-date=13 January 2024 |publisher=Préfét de La Réunion |lang=fr}}</ref> On 13 January, the MMS issued a [[Tropical cyclone warnings and watches#Mauritius|class I cyclone warning]] for Mauritius.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 January 2024 |title=Belal : Maurice passe en alerte cyclonique de classe 1 |url=https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/societe/belal-maurice-passe-en-alerte-cyclonique-de-classe-1/619827/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113074210/https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/societe/belal-maurice-passe-en-alerte-cyclonique-de-classe-1/619827/ |archive-date=13 January 2024 |access-date=13 January 2024 |publisher=[[Le Mauricien]] |lang=fr}}</ref> On 14 January, the MFR would issue a red alert for [[Réunion]] as Belal neared the nation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=France raises cyclone alert to red as Belal approaches its Reunion island in Indian Ocean |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/france-raises-cyclone-alert-to-red-as-belal-approaches-its-reunion-island-in-indian-ocean/3108635 |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref> This was the first red alert issued for the island since [[Cyclone Firinga]] in January&nbsp;1989.<ref name="FirstWarning1989">{{cite news |last1=Hills |first1=Matt |title=Weather tracker: first red cyclone warning for Réunion since 1989 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/15/weather-tracker-first-red-cyclone-warning-for-reunion-since-1989 |access-date=15 January 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=15 January 2024}}</ref> On 15 January, the MFR would issue a purple alert for Réunion as Belal neared the coast.<ref name="OneDead">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-15 |title=One dead as storm hits French Indian Ocean island |url=https://news.yahoo.com/reunion-island-highest-alert-major-040230512.html |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[eyewall]] of Belal remained just offshore the northern coast of Réunion during the storm's closest passage.<ref name="EnDirectLeMonde">{{cite news |title=En direct, cyclone Belal à La Réunion : pas de levée de l’alerte rouge avant mardi matin, selon la préfecture |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/live/2024/01/15/en-direct-cyclone-belal-a-la-reunion-pas-de-levee-de-l-alerte-rouge-avant-mardi-matin-selon-la-prefecture_6210886_3244.html |access-date=15 January 2024 |work=Le Monde |date=15 January 2024}}</ref> OneThree personpeople died during the storm in Réunion.<ref name="OneDead:0">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-1516 |title=OneMauritius deadand asReunion stormassess hitsdamage Frenchfrom Indian Ocean islandcyclone that killed at least 4 people |url=https://news.yahooapnews.com/reunionarticle/cyclone-islandtropical-highestreunion-alertmauritius-majorflood-040230512.html3c0bbe47ebeea2351ef554231415ccec |access-date=2024-01-1517 |website=YahooAP News |language=en-US}}</ref> Around 150,000&nbsp;electricity customers lost power, representing more than a third of the island's population. Around 37,000&nbsp;people lost access to water.<ref name="EnDirectLeMonde" /> One person died in Mauritius.<ref name="BelalFloodingReunionMauritius">{{cite news |last1=Mohabuth |first1=Yasine |last2=Vock |first2=Ido |title=Cyclone Belal: Flooding as storm hits Réunion and heads for Mauritius |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-67982380 |access-date=15 January 2024 |work=BBC |date=15 January 2024}}</ref> After the storm's passage, Mauritius' head of meteorology stepped down after his institution was accused of "not giving adequate warning about the storm’s impact."<ref name=":0" />