In Reunion, a woman died on Wednesday June 29 after being hit by a wave on the coast of Etang-Salé (south-west) and her son was seriously injured, while the Prefecture decreed "
wave vigilance
submersion
”, we learned from the emergency services.
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The 72-year-old mother was killed instantly and her 47-year-old son is in a state of absolute emergency, according to the same source.
The two victims "
were swept away by the waves (...) after having crossed a perimeter prohibited by municipal decree
", indicates the prefecture in a press release, asking Reunionese not to approach the edge of the water and not to take any risks to take pictures or videos of the waves.
Several municipalities on the south and south-west coast of this island in the Indian Ocean have banned traffic by the sea and nautical activities because of this episode of strong swells, usual during the austral winter.
Significant damage was observed in several homes by the sea in Saint-Louis, a town in the south of the island.
The police evacuated several residents.
All the accommodation centers in the arrondissement of Saint-Pierre are activated, underlines the Prefecture.
The waves of 6 meters on average, with peaks reaching 12 meters, also caused a lot of material damage on the roads of the west and south coast.
According to Météo-France, the swell episode should continue at least until late Wednesday afternoon.
