Deadly floods in Mauritius : 11 killed

Time & location

Level of gravity (max of H or M - 6 levels) : 3 Level of human consequences (H - 6 levels): 3 Level of material consequences (M - 6 levels): 3

Date: 2013-03-30
Continent: Africa
Country: Mauritus
State/Province (see map): Mauritius wide
Precise location : -
City: -

Human toll

Number of dead : 11
Number of missing : 0
Number of injured : 82
Number of evacuees : 0

Description

 At least 11 people have died and another 82 have been wounded after sudden rains caused flooding in the Mauritian capital Port Louis on Saturday, officials have said.

At least eight of the victims were caught in underground areas as the flood waters rose rapidly. Another died of a heart attack.

The island's metereologists said 152mm (6in) of rain fell in less than an hour, 70mm less than the March average.

Prime Minister Navin Rangoolam declared 1 April a day of mourning. 

The floods caused chaos in the city, with a huge traffic jam paralysing its centre, L'Express de Maurice newspaper reported.

The bodies of six people were recovered from a pedestrian subway and another two from an underground car park.

Resident Ameeksha Dichand told the BBC she had been unable to go outside because it was raining so heavily, though people did venture out on Sunday to inspect the damage.

a lot of roads have been blocked and there is mud everywhere. Trees have fallen all over the place.

More rain was expected on Sunday, and people were advised to stay at home.