At 10am on Thursday, 6am UK, the country’s met office said Eleanor was centred about 75km off the island’s northern coast, moving in a south-southwestly direction at around an "accelerated" 25km/ph.
Owing to the conditions, Air Mauritius cancelled its Gatwick departure on Wednesday (21 February). The carrier is offering anyone due to travel to the island during the next week the option to change their flight for free for another departing up to 31 March.
Mauritius’s airport operator, Airport Terminal Operations Ltd (Atol), confirmed SSR International airport would be closed from 7.30am local time on Thursday until further notice.
