Cyclone Garance Devastates Reunion Island, Resulting in Casualties and Damage

Cyclone Garance has caused at least three deaths and significant destruction on Reunion Island, with winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour. Emergency shelters housed 847 individuals while power and water outages affected thousands. Despite the lifting of the highest warning, residents were instructed to remain indoors due to persisting severe weather conditions.

Cyclone Garance struck the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion on Friday, leading to significant damage and the loss of at least three lives as confirmed by French police. The storm unleashed fierce winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph) and heavy rainfall, prompting authorities to advise residents to remain indoors. Flooding, power outages, and damage to infrastructure were widespread, with many seeking refuge in emergency shelters.

In total, 847 individuals were housed in temporary shelters due to safety concerns regarding flooding and landslides. Approximately 182,000 residents experienced power outages, and 171,000 lost access to potable water. Strong winds were reported to have torn off roofs, windows, and doors from numerous buildings, prompting the distribution of tarpaulins to assist the worst-affected regions, particularly in the east of the island.

While the highest-level purple cyclone warning was lifted on Friday morning, authorities maintained a red warning as adverse weather was expected to persist. National weather agency Meteo France reported wind speeds of up to 214 kilometers per hour (133 mph) at the main airport, heightening concerns for residents’ safety. Reunion Island is situated approximately 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) southeast of Mayotte, another French territory that has recently faced devastating cyclonic events.

In related news, local authorities in Mayotte reported 40 fatalities and 41 individuals missing following Cyclone Chido’s impact in December, which was noted as the most severe cyclone to strike the region in nearly a century. As the situation develops, concerns remain that additional casualties could emerge as assessments of the damage continue.

Cyclone Garance has left a devastating impact on Reunion Island, with at least three confirmed fatalities, extensive damage to infrastructure, and massive power outages. As the island begins recovery efforts, the full extent of the storm’s destruction and its implications for residents will be assessed. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely as recovery operations unfold.

Original Source: www.voanews.com