La Reunion declares highest weather emergency as cyclone Belal approaches

PARIS (Reuters) - The French island of La Réunion was placed under a maximum-level cyclone alert on Monday morning and citizens were urged to stay inside, cut power, stop using tap water and stay in the safest room of their houses due to a cyclone named Belal.

"Take refuge in the safest room of your homes", the local prefect's office said on social media, adding: "Do not go out on whatever pretext, even if the weather is calm. This is probably the eye of the cyclone."