France raises cyclone alert to red as Belal approaches its Reunion island in Indian Ocean

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) – France will raise its cyclone alert to red in Reunion island in the Indian Ocean later on Sunday, as cyclone Belal is expected to hit the French overseas territory late in the night.

Cyclone Belal is expected to make landfall on the island overnight, and France will issue a red alert on Sunday at 8 p.m. local time (1600 GMT) due to unfavorable weather conditions, the French daily Le Parisien reported.

The Roland-Garros airport on the island will be closed to flights "until further notice" beginning at 4 p.m. local time as part of the measures taken against the cyclone, with expected gusts of 200 kilometers per hour (124 miles per hour) to 250 kilometers per hour (155 miles per hour), the daily said.

Residents of the island have already been advised to stay at home because of the current orange alert. However, with the implementation of the red alert, all movement will be prohibited except for emergency services.

Nearly 860,000 people on Reunion island are also advised to stock up on food and drinks and move to a safe shelter where they would need to stay for several days.