Cyclone Garance has resulted in three deaths and widespread damage on Reunion Island, with 180,000 homes without power and 170,000 without water. The cyclone, which made landfall delivering winds up to 234 km/h, forced a complete lockdown for residents. Emergency services are responding as conditions stabilize, but the storm remains a serious threat.
Cyclone Garance has tragically claimed the lives of three individuals as it traversed the island of Reunion in the French Indian Ocean. With wind gusts reaching up to 234 kilometers per hour (145 miles per hour), the storm left more than 180,000 homes without electricity and approximately 170,000 residents without access to running water following its landfall on Friday morning. Local authorities issued a maximum alert, advising the entire population, including the emergency services and police, to remain indoors during the cyclone’s peak.
The storm, which initially struck the northern part of Reunion at 10:00 local time, subsequently moved southward, exiting the island by late afternoon, in accordance with updates from the weather agency Meteo France. Continued heavy rainfall was anticipated, with Prime Minister François Bayrou cautioning that the cyclone remained a significant threat. Prefect Patrice Latron described the cyclone’s conditions as “brutal and violent,” surpassing even those of Cyclone Belal, which had resulted in four fatalities earlier this year.
The landfall wind speed of 234 kilometers per hour is the highest recorded on the island since Cyclone Hollanda in February 1994. Vincent Clain, a 45-year-old resident from the northern coast, expressed his fear, stating, “This is the first time I’ve seen a cyclone this powerful, and also the first time I’ve been afraid.” Authorities reduced the alert level by midday, allowing emergency services and police to resume their duties.
In response to the crisis, about 200 troops and firefighters from the French territory of Mayotte, located nearly 1,500 km away, were put on standby, alongside another 100 personnel from mainland France. Concurrently, a 55-year-old man remains missing in nearby Mauritius after swimming in hazardous sea conditions. France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau described Cyclone Garance as having a “rare intensity,” while Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu assured that armed forces were prepared to provide necessary assistance as the situation unfolded.
In summary, Cyclone Garance has caused significant destruction in Reunion, resulting in three fatalities and extensive infrastructure damage. The storm’s wind speeds reached alarming levels, prompting emergency alerts and the mobilization of rescue and support personnel. Authorities are actively managing the aftermath while warning of ongoing dangers from the severe weather.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
