2023-06-22 21:37:47
Martinique went into cyclone red vigilance, Thursday, June 22, at 12 p.m. (6 p.m. in Paris) as tropical storm Bret approached, which should make landfall in the late afternoon, the prefecture announced in a communiqué.
Bret maintains its movement towards the west, specified the prefecture. “The gusts can reach 100 to 120 kilometers / hour and locally 150 kilometers / hour in the most exposed areas”she added. “Economic activity will stop” as soon as the red vigilance came into force, had also warned the prefecture.
Companies are invited to release their employees, transport will be completely interrupted and all sea trips prohibited.
Read also: Martinique prepares for the arrival of tropical storm Bret
Schools closed
“Located 561 kilometers east of Martinique this Thursday morning, the strong tropical storm is heading west at a speed of 24 kilometers per hour. Its center should cross the Lesser Antilles between Martinique and the island of Saint Lucia, its southern neighbor., estimates Météo-France. The French island would then find itself exposed to the most active part of the hurricane system.
Rainfall accumulations greater than 100 millimeters are expected, up to “200 millimeters locally”, according to Météo-France. A cyclonic swell generating waves of 6 meters in the Saint Lucia channel will accompany the passage of the phenomenon.
As of Wednesday, the rectorate ordered all schools on the island not to welcome students on Thursday. Coastal and inter-island shipping has also been suspended. The airport authorities have also decided to close Aimé-Césaire airport until further notice.
The Territorial Collectivity of Martinique launched its Technical Services Intervention Plan (PISTe) as soon as the orange cyclone vigilance was announced on Wednesday.
In 2007, Martinique was the island of the French West Indies most affected by Hurricane Dean: two people lost their lives and some 400 households were deprived of housing.
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