The bodies of two homeless people were found on the island of La Reunion today, raising the death toll on the French Indian Ocean island to three after Cyclone Belal passed through yesterday.

The extreme weather also hit the island of Mauritius, where a red alert was issued in the morning.

In Reunion, “unfortunately we discovered two more bodies, two homeless people who refused to go to the emergency shelters,” Interior and Overseas Territories Minister Géral Darmanen said during questions to the government in the French National Assembly.

Yesterday, another homeless man was pulled unconscious in Saint-Gilles, in the western part of Reunion, in the early hours of the tropical cyclone’s passage over the island of 870,000 people.

Belal continued its course toward Mauritius, about 200 km northeast, which it swept with torrential rains and gale-force winds, killing at least one person in that area.

After ordering residents to stay indoors yesterday, the Mauritian government eased restrictions today, but the weather service advised citizens to “remain in safe areas”. The island was hit by torrential rains and winds of over 100 km/h.

The red alert in Reunion due to the cyclone came this morning.

In Mauritius, thousands of people were without electricity and many cars were submerged under the muddy waters. In the capital Port Louis, vehicles were swept away by torrents with water almost covering them.

Police said the body of a motorcyclist was found on a flooded road after a traffic accident.

The French interior minister will visit Reunion tomorrow.

File photo