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Flash floods claim 11 lives in Mauritius

At least 11 people are reported to have died in flash floods in Mauritius.


A national day of mourning was declared yesterday (Monday) after sudden rains hit the capital of Port Louis on Saturday.


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


The Foreign & Commonwealth Office, updating its travel advice, warned that heavy rain was forecast to continue and further flash flooding was possible.


“You should be cautious along any riverbanks and water courses including storm drains,” the FCO said.


The island’s metereologists said six inches of rain fell in less than an hour.


At least eight of the victims were reportedly caught in underground areas such are car parks and subways as the flood waters rose rapidly. Another died of a heart attack.


Prime Minister Navin Rangoolam said the Indian ocean island was suffering badly from the effects of climate change.

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