Guadeloupe was placed on red alert Monday evening for heavy rain and thunderstorms, due to the passage of storm Philippe near the archipelago, Météo-France announced in its latest alert bulletin.
Guadeloupean schools will remain closed on Tuesday October 3, Agence France-Presse (AFP) learned from the prefecture, which announced in a press release that the departmental operational center (COD) – the crisis unit – had been activated.
The storm, expected to pass as close as possible to the coast during the night and morning of Tuesday according to Météo-France, is causing very heavy rains in the archipelago and localized flooding for the time being, paralyzing certain roads since 7 p.m. (1 time in Paris).
Some roads cut
“Heavenly rains are currently occurring across the entire archipelago,” also notes Météo-France, which recommends the greatest caution. Accumulations of around 200 to 300 millimeters over twenty-four hours are expected.
“The wind blows south-southwest, between 40 and 50 kilometers per hour, especially along the seaside and on the heights,” warns the meteorological organization, which warns of stronger gusts of up to 70 kilometers. hour and can occur in showers.
The rain, which is now falling continuously, accompanied by lightning and thunder, has already cut off certain roads, according to the Routes de Guadeloupe joint union, which announced landslides and falling trees in particular.
Many videos are circulating on social networks, showing different places in Guadeloupe, for example in the south of Basse-Terre, completely flooded, recalling storm Fiona which submerged the area on the night of September 16 to 17, 2022, causing one death. .