An unprecedented tidal wave hit the mascarene islands on Saturday night. Waves with average height of 5 to 6 metres and peaks of 10 to 11 metres caused considerable damage to coastal habitations. These coincided with the high tides at 10.30 pm. Eight persons are reported missing, one in Mauritius, five in Rodrigues and two in Reunion Islands.
Information from the Meteorological Services reveal that these waves have been caused by an extra-tropical storm some 2000 km to the South of the Mascarenes. With a central pressure of 950 hPa it may be compared to intense tropical cyclone Gervaise which hit Mauritius in 1975 when a maximum gust of 175 km/h was recorded. Extra-tropical depressions are common during this transition period to winter which is also characterized by strong anticyclones to the south. The southern coasts have been mainly affected.
Some people thought it was a tsunami. But tsunami is a different phenomenon. It is triggered by earthquakes in the deep seas. Its waves travel over very long distances. They can enter several meters inland with devastating effects. Tidal waves occur at the surface of the sea as a result of strong sustained winds.
Although this time the waves have been phenomenal, tidal waves have been observed in the past in 1915, 1976, 1987 and 1995 during similar periods of the year. It is therefore not a new phenomenon as some people tend to believe.
Mauritian residing in Rodrigues, Amanoola Khayrattee (pen name Alfa King) is contributing writer and journalist to La Gazette Mag de l’océan indien and This Week News Mauritius.
Retired, former meteorological cadre, trade unionist and OSH consultant, Amanoola has written for in-house union and other journals, publications and magazines. He runs two blogs since 2007: “Alfa King Memories”, and “Le Journal d’Alfa King”. When he is not reading or writing, he is on a 10+ km daily hike in anticipation of his monthly trails.
Amanoola may be reached at [email protected].
Maybe it’s not such a new phenomenon but it still sounds pretty scary to me.
Yeah, scary it is indeed, Beccy.
I read in the papers some coastal dwellers have lost their belongings. Also two officers of the Coast Guards have perished during search and rescue in Rodrigues.
I have ever witnessed once in the 80’s. Believe me, you can see the waves like mountains.