SAINT-DENIS DE LA REUNION, Jan 15, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Hundreds of thousands of

people on France's Reunion Island were confined to their homes Monday, as
authorities issued the highest alert for a potentially devastating storm.

Cyclone Belal was expected to barrel directly into the French Indian Ocean
island on Monday, as it moved in from the northwest packing "extreme winds",
according to the Meteo-France forecast.

"The eye of the storm will directly cross over the island," the
meteorological service said in its latest public bulletin.
 
"Belal is not, however, expected to become an intense tropical cyclone."

In preparation for gusty winds that could exceed 250 kilometres per hour (155
miles per hour) in the highlands, authorities hoisted the violet-level alert,
indicating imminent danger, at 6:00 am (0200 GMT), putting all 870,000
inhabitants, including the emergency services, on strict lockdown.

"All circulation is formally prohibited for any reason whatsoever, and until
further notice," the official statement said.

Authorities urged islanders to stock up on food and water and stay indoors
for 36 hours.

Expecting waves up to 13-15 metres (43-49 feet) high, the entire coastline
was put on alert.

Many balconies and gardens had been cleared of any objects that could be
carried away or broken, and shopkeepers took in removable signs.

"We are not going to play heroes, we were told to stay at home," said Jules
Dafreville, who lives in the capital Saint-Denis.

"I returned in the middle of the afternoon and I don't plan to come out
before... Tuesday morning."

The island's main airport said it was suspending flight operations.

French President Emmanuel Macron took to social media on Sunday to urge
residents to stay indoors. "Be careful, stay at home," he said on X.

- 'Devastating winds' -

The last major cyclone to hit Reunion was in 2014.

But speaking about the dangers of the current storm, authorities evoked
Cyclone Firinga in 1989, which destroyed hundreds of homes and dropped
record-breaking rain.

Meteo-France warned of a possible "lull" as the eye of the storm tracked over
the island, but added, "this should not be understood as the end of the
cyclone".

"Quite the opposite, as the winds will pick up again in completely different
directions," said Celine Jauffret at the forecasting service.

The weather service warned that winds could exceed 200 km/h on the coast and
250 km/h or more in the highlands.

"These are destructive and devastating winds that could cause major damage,"
said Sebastien Langlade, head of forecasting at Meteo-France Reunion.

Residents were also warned to beware potentially flooded rivers.

Six emergency health centres were set up for people requiring treatment, in
addition to the 142 accommodation centres across the country for people to
use in the event of flooding.

Olivier Blondet, manager of two restaurants and a nightclub in Saint-Denis,
prepared his three establishments for the worst.

He fixed the sofa on his terrace to the railings and removed blunt objects,
he said.

"We're trying to make sure there's absolutely nothing that can come off the
ground and be thrown onto the windows or walls," he said on BFMTV.

In Saint-Denis, around 20 homeless people were taken to a shelter.