Reuters AlertNet Lite - Seychelles atoll battens down for cyclone Bondo

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Seychelles atoll battens down for cyclone Bondo

21 Dec 2006 10:04:00 GMT
Source: Reuters

VICTORIA, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Seychelles authorities evacuated 35 people from a remote atoll ahead of a rare tropical cyclone due to strike there on Thursday, officials said.

The move left just eight residents of Farquhar sheltering in a concrete bunker waiting for cyclone Bondo, which is expected to whip in with winds touching 190 kph (120 mph).

"We expect major damage to the infrastructure there, but we will only know the extent of it tomorrow," said Glenny Savy, chief executive of the government body that runs the island.

"We left eight people to get things up and running after the cyclone has passed. We're in touch with them and they are okay," he told Reuters by telephone.

Mauritius meteorologist Rajoo Veerasamy said cyclones were extremely rare in the 115-isle Seychelles archipelago because of its proximity to the equator. Farquhar Atoll lies some 800 km (500 miles) southwest of the Seychelles' main island, Mahe. (Additional reporting by Ed Harris in Maurituis)

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Last updated:Mon Jan 22 15:36:51 2007