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 .