Cyclone Garance struck Reunion with fierce winds and relentless rains, resulting in three fatalities and significant infrastructural damage. Authorities urge residents to remain cautious as recovery efforts begin.
Destructive Cyclone Garance Claims Lives and Causes Widespread Devastation in Reunion
Destructive Cyclone Garance Claims Lives and Causes Widespread Devastation in Reunion
Cyclone Garance wreaks havoc on Reunion, leaving three dead and 180,000 homes without power as authorities raise maximum alert.
Cyclone Garance has left a devastating mark on Reunion, a French territory located in the Indian Ocean, claiming the lives of three individuals. The storm made landfall early Friday morning with wind speeds reaching a staggering 234km/h (145mph) and has since resulted in widespread power and water outages affecting over 180,000 households.
In response to the cyclone’s danger, local authorities imposed a maximum alert level, compelling all residents, including emergency personnel, to seek shelter indoors. These severe conditions have been characterized as “brutal and violent” by Prefect Patrice Latron, surpassing the impact of Cyclone Belal, which had previously resulted in four fatalities on the island in January 2024.
The cyclone touched down in northern Reunion at 10:00 local time (06:00 GMT) and progressed southward, exiting the island by late afternoon, according to the national weather agency Meteo France. The authorities relaxed the alert status in the afternoon, enabling emergency teams to emerge from shelter to assess the damage and start recovery efforts.
Local resident Vincent Clain, 45, expressed his shock, stating, "This is the first time I've seen a cyclone this powerful, and also the first time I've been afraid." In light of the disaster, approximately 100 troops and firefighters are ready to be dispatched from Mayotte, around 1,500km (930 miles) away, alongside a similar number preparing to assist from mainland France.
As the region's fight against Cyclone Garance continues, the search is underway for a missing 55-year-old swimmer in treacherous waters off the coast of nearby Mauritius. France's Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau remarked on the cyclone's “rare intensity,” reinforcing the need for vigilance and preparedness as the situation progresses.
