Note: This story was updated late last night. Please see below:
The Seychellois government has lifted the State of Emergency that was declared on Thursday, December 7, following an explosion in the Providence Industrial zone and heavy rain that caused flooding and landslides.
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.
Tourism Update has received an official statement from Tourism Seychelles on the implications for travellers to and from the island nation after the Seychellois government declared a State of Emergency early this morning. This follows excessive rains that caused flooding and “massive destruction”, and an explosion in the Providence Industrial zone resulted in “major damage”.
“The President of Seychelles has proclaimed a State of Emergency, which will take effect this Thursday, December 7, at 06h00, in response to the floods caused by heavy rains in the north part of Mahé yesterday, Tuesday, December 6, 2023, and the incident in the Industrial zone of Providence. This decision was made after much consideration to the damage sustained in these areas, which seriously jeopardises community safety,” read the statement.
During this time, several measures will be taken:
- Public safety: All hotels and service providers are advised to ask clients to refrain from movement today, December 7, with residents being asked to stay home and off the roads.
- Services: Those arriving to and departing from Seychelles will be allowed to travel between ports and their hotels.
- Community: Tourism service providers are asked to adhere to instructions from the police and to stay informed through reliable channels while supporting one another through this difficult time.
An Air Seychelles post on the carrier’s Facebook page noted that domestic flights would be operating to connect to and from international flights while other flights would be consolidated. They provide the following numbers for assistance with bookings:
+248 2633 795
+248 261 3251
+248 251 4500
+248 257 5639
The situation is currently being monitored. Updates will be provided as soon as new information becomes available.
