Residents of Reunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, were advised to remain indoors on Friday as Cyclone Garance unleashed severe weather conditions. Heavy rainfall and winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph) battered the island, resulting in flooding, power outages, and structural damage.
The local government reported that 683 individuals had taken refuge in emergency shelters, while 54 people were evacuated to mitigate the risks of potential flooding or landslides. Fortunately, there were no casualties attributed to the cyclone.
Authorities indicated that about 30% of households were without electricity, and nearly 10% of the island’s population of 885,000 found themselves lacking access to potable water. Concurrently, the powerful winds caused significant damage, tearing off roofs, doors, and windows from numerous buildings. In response, tarpaulins were dispatched to the worst affected regions in the island’s east to offer temporary relief.
Despite the cyclone warning being reduced from the highest level, ‘purple’, to ‘red’ as of Friday morning, residents were urged to continue taking precautions as adverse weather, including heavy rains and robust winds, was expected to prevail throughout the day. This adjustment enabled emergency services to commence aiding those impacted.
According to Meteo France, the national meteorological agency, gusts of wind reaching speeds of 214 kilometers per hour were observed at Reunion’s main airport.
Reunion Island is situated about 1,500 kilometers southeast of the French territory of Mayotte, which is located near the African continent. The region was devastated in December by Cyclone Chido, noted as the most severe cyclone to strike in almost a century, leading to widespread damage. Cyclone Chido resulted in confirmed fatalities of 40 individuals, with another 41 reported as missing or presumed buried, and concerns persist that the death toll may be higher.
