Damage-causing floods hit headlines in Mauritius
Port Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - Floods, caused by heavy showers that fell for several days across the island, causing considerable material damage, made newspaper headlines in Mauritius this week.
"Nightmare awake" was the title of the daily L'Express, reporting that the floods affected a lot of areas across the island.
In another headline, L'Express screamed "Water to the knees, flooded houses, impassable paths ... .At Cottage (a village in the north of the island), more than 150 inhabitants have lived a nightmare. It's impossible even to enter several flooded houses.
It also reported that in other places, such as Fond du sac (still in the north of the island), the victims assembled on the main roads, railing against the authorities after their homes were flooded again.
According to the newspaper, there are no less than 50 houses affected by the rising waters.
In another story on the rains, L’Express writes under the headline "The long-awaited rains make the Mauritians sweat", saying that the rains that have fallen on the island have upset the daily routine of Mauritians. Between floods, accumulations of water and electrical storms, the island is on alert."
For its part, the daily Le Défi writes that this is the third time in six years that the inhabitants of Fond du sac have fallen victims of floods. "The first time was back to February 13, 2013 and the second February 10, 2016."
But those of this dramatic night from Tuesday April 9 to Wednesday April 10 are just too much.
The people blame their representatives at the level of government, saying that they have done nothing for them.
Faced with this tragedy in which many inhabitants, mainly those who live in the north of the island, the private radio Radio Plus organized a food collection at Fond du Sac on Thursday.
Reporting on this event, Le Défi writes: "Mauritians have responded to the solidarity drive launched by Radio Plus and social media to help hundreds of flood victims of Fond du sac, Cottage and Baie du Tombeau.”
According to Le Defi, “this presented a solid momentum of solidarity. Indeed, Radio Plus's call for solidarity has not fallen on deaf ears."
For its part, the daily Le Mauricien wondered, under the title "Trauma and anger in the North, when a solution to their problems will come?
"A question that remains unanswered for the residents of Fond-du-Sac who experienced a nightmarish rise of water on Tuesday night. The water has indeed invaded their yards, their houses, where it remained at least 12 hours, forcing them to seek refuge with their neighbors or their relatives ... In any case, with every shower, torrential or not, it is anger and trauma among residents of Fond du sac, Cottage and surrounding areas," writes Le Mauricien.
Le Mauricien also reports that inhabitants have shown their anger towards their representatives at the level of Parliament, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ashit Gungah, “to make him understand that this situation cannot continue because their houses suffered substantial damage.”
During a visit to the site of the floods, the Minister made the following statement, as reported by this newspaper: "We have to look at the flood problem in two ways. In the first place, it's rain, which is out of our control. And second, we said that we will build drains but I must admit that we have a delay in this project," it writes.
Mr. Gungah said “he understands the anger of some residents, especially given the damage done and the property destroyed."
-0- PANA NA/VAO 13April2019
