Residents on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean were advised to remain indoors as Tropical Cyclone Garance unleashed severe weather conditions on Friday. The cyclone brought with it intense rain and wind speeds surpassing 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph), resulting in floods, power outages, and substantial damage to infrastructure.
The prefecture of Reunion Island issued a formal statement indicating that 683 individuals had sought safety in emergency shelters while 54 people were preemptively evacuated to mitigate risks from potential floods or landslides. Fortunately, there have been no reports of casualties.
Officials estimate that around 30% of the homes are currently without electricity, and about 10% of the island’s population, numbering roughly 885,000, are experiencing disruptions in their drinking water supply.
The intense winds have reportedly torn roofs, doors, and windows from numerous buildings. To address these immediate challenges, tarpaulins are being distributed to the badly affected regions, particularly in the eastern parts of the island.
Although the purple cyclone warning, representing the highest alert level, was rescinded on Friday morning, this paved the way for emergency services to commence their operations. Despite this, the island remains under a red warning, and residents are still encouraged to stay sheltered as the storm continues to bring heavy rainfall and potent winds throughout the day.
Reports from Meteo France, the national meteorological agency, have noted winds reaching speeds of 214 kilometers per hour at the island’s main airport.
Situated approximately 1,500 kilometers southeast of the French territory Mayotte, Reunion Island is no stranger to severe weather. Mayotte, an island cluster off the coast of Africa, experienced its most devastating cyclone in nearly a century in December. The aftermath of Cyclone Chido’s landfall resulted in extensive destruction, and local authorities have confirmed 40 fatalities, with 41 individuals either missing or presumed buried. The concern remains that the death toll could rise further.
