Following an explosion in the Providence Industrial zone and excessive rains that caused flooding and landslides, the Seychellois government has lifted the State of Emergency it declared on Thursday, December 7.
Several measures have been taken to mitigate the cumulative impact of the two events. All hotels and service providers were advised to ask clients not to leave the premises, with residents told to stay at home and off the roads. Those arriving to and departing from Seychelles were, however, allowed to travel between ports and their hotels, and movement has reportedly resumed as normal.
In a statement from Tourism Seychelles, it was confirmed that no tourists were harmed, although some parts of the Beau Vallon and Bel Ombre regions have been damaged.
“We want to reassure the public, especially our visitors boarding a flight to our islands, that Seychelles remains a safe destination. The government has taken extensive measures to address any potential hazards and to restore normalcy to the affected areas. Our dedicated first responders and emergency services have been working around the clock to mitigate the impact of the disaster and provide assistance to those in need,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde.
The National Emergency Operation Centre together with the Seychelles Red Cross has assessed affected areas to ensure they are safe.
