Aftermath of disasters |13 December 2023
Mr Cetoupe (Photo: Kurtrine Albert)
DRMD puts in place measures
to help with recovery process
By Patrick Joubert
In view of the persisting heavy rainfall, different measures will be put in place to help with the recovery process following last week’s disasters, said the Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD).
Speaking at a press briefing on the division’s recovery operations yesterday, chief risk management officer, Daniel Cetoupe, said the measures will ensure follow ups with people displaced by the disasters, reconstruction of houses, buildings and drainage.
It is also to ensure concrete actions are taken so that things could go back to normal.
The heavy rainfall in the northern region on December 6 led to flooding and landslide causing the death of three persons, while a blast in Petit Paris in the early hours of December 7 injured many and destroyed houses and buildings.
Mr Cetoupe said DRMD was receiving assistance from its international partners, such as the World Bank, which are providing assessments for the implementation of a concrete national recovery plan.
Since the northern area is considered a zone with potential risks, Mr Cetoupe said DRMD, along with other local emergency responders, are still carrying out assessments in the area, to come up with an effective contingency plan that will mitigate future damages to properties and prevent loss of lives.
Speaking on their role during the two disasters, Mr Cetoupe said DRMD activated the National Emergency Operation Centre since 10pm on Wednesday evening following reports of flooding and landslides.
It coordinated with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, through its district administrators, for quick response to the various emergency cases reported.
He said DRMD was notified of the blast in Petit Paris at around 2.18am on Thursday by the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA) and immediately sent personnel on scene to evaluate the situation and set up a command post, to coordinate emergency response.
He said the scene was handed over to the police at 9am for control of access and investigation.
Mr Cetoupe explained the explosion was considered a national disaster and fell under the Platinum level as per the national disaster indicators, which saw the intervention of President Wavel Ramkalawan, who declared a state of emergency.
“I can say that we did not function perfectly, in spite of what has been achieved. We encountered many challenges and there are still many challenges going forward,” said Mr Cetoupe, who noted that many lessons were learned from the two disasters.
According to DRMD, 54 households were affected in the north of Mahé and 63 households in the explosion.
He added that while they are still rounding off figures of people affected in the north, statistics indicate that 337 people were evacuated from their homes following the explosion.
DRMD said although an explosion of that magnitude was unforeseen in Seychelles, the way forward is to improve on the current emergency system to prepare for such eventualities.
“Incidents will always happen. The important thing is to have a contingency plan in terms of what to do when disaster happens and also what to do if things go wrong,” said Mr Cetoupe, who added that people will be encouraged to participate in sensitisation sessions and disaster exercises that will be hosted in communities, for their own benefit.