Mauritius Lifts Warning as Cyclone Shifts Course
Date: 06-Mar-06
Country: MAURITIUS
The Mauritius Meteorological Services (MSS) said that Diwa, centred about 260 km to the northwest of Mauritius, was moving away in a southwesterly direction at 15 kph.
"Latest observations indicate that ... tropical storm Diwa is starting to move away from Mauritius," the MSS said in a statement. "No cyclone warning is in force."
Winds of 70-80 kph would continue, however, and heavy rains would cause floods in some parts of the island, it added.
Earlier on Saturday, the MSS had advised the Indian Ocean island's 1.2 million people to stock up on tinned foods, candles and gas stoves in anticipation of power cuts.
The impact of cyclones on crops is a major concern for the world's seventh largest sugar exporter.
Mauritius also relies heavily on tourism. More than 700,000 tourists arrive every year, generating some $800 million.
Mauritius was last suffered a severe cyclone in February 2003, when cyclone Gerry ruined houses and sugar crops and cut power lines.
Cyclone season on the island, located off the southeast coast of Africa, is from November to mid-May, peaking in January-February.
