text: Mauritius put on cyclone alert . PORT LOUIS 1996-12-06 Mauritian authorities put the Indian Ocean island on cyclone alert on Friday . The weather services office said the centre of the intense tropical cyclone Daniella was 570 km ( 310 miles ) north by northwest of the island on Friday afternoon and was moving south by southwest at eight km an hour ( four knots ) . Although not threatening Mauritius directly , it is coming closer to the island and could change direction , it added . Winds up to 75 km an hour ( 40 knots ) could blow over Mauritius during the night of Friday to Saturday , it said . The weather in the capital Port Louis was heavily cloudy on Friday afternoon with occasional showers . The northeastern coast of the nearby island of Madagascar has also gone on alert .