Cyclone Garance has wreaked havoc on Reunion Island, claiming three lives as it battered the region with record winds and heavy rainfall, prompting a maximum alert and widespread devastation.
Cyclone Garance Claims Three Lives in Reunion Island Devastation
Cyclone Garance Claims Three Lives in Reunion Island Devastation
Intense cyclone leaves destruction and emergencies across the French Indian Ocean territory.
Three people lost their lives as Cyclone Garance unleashed its fury on Reunion Island, with wind gusts reaching up to 234 km/h (145 mph). The powerful tropical cyclone struck the French territory in the Indian Ocean on Friday morning, leading to a significant loss of infrastructure, leaving more than 180,000 homes without power and 170,000 residents without running water.
In response to the cyclone's unpredictable path and intensity, officials ordered the entire population, including emergency responders, to remain indoors. The cyclone was characterized as "brutal and violent," prompting Prime Minister Francois Bayrou to remind citizens on social media that the threat still loomed, even as the storm was predicted to continue into the evening hours.
The storm made landfall in the northern part of the island at about 10:00 local time (06:00 GMT) before making its way southward, finally retreating by late afternoon, according to Meteo France reports. Prefect Patrice Latron noted that the conditions were more severe than those experienced during Cyclone Belal, which resulted in four fatalities in January 2024.
Local authorities partially lifted the maximum alert by midday Friday to allow emergency services to commence recovery operations. Cyclone Garance's wind speeds marked the highest recorded on the island since Cyclone Hollanda swept through in February 1994.
Vincent Clain, a resident from the northern coast, expressed his disbelief, 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 devastation, approximately 100 troops and firefighters are being prepared for deployment from Mayotte, about 1,500 km (930 miles) away, as well as an additional force from mainland France.
In related news, a 55-year-old man has gone missing in neighboring Mauritius after attempting to swim in turbulent seas earlier in the week. France's Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau labeled Cyclone Garance as one of "rare intensity," while Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu affirmed that the armed forces are poised to assist in recovery efforts as the situation develops.
