Cyclone Garance Devastates La Reunion: Fatalities and Widespread Destruction
French authorities confirmed on Saturday that Cyclone Garance wreaked havoc across the Indian Ocean island of La Reunion, resulting in at least four confirmed fatalities. The cyclone brought with it violent winds reaching speeds of 230 kilometers per hour (approximately 143 miles per hour), uprooting thousands of trees and leaving significant destruction in its wake. Among the deceased, a man was found trapped beneath fallen trees, while two women and another man lost their lives due to the flash floods, being caught in a mudslide or perishing in an electrical fire caused by the storm, according to local prefecture reports.
In addition to the loss of life, the storm left over 180,000 residents without electricity and more than 170,000 without access to clean water. The international airport on the island was expected to reopen later on Saturday after a temporary closure due to the cyclone. Meanwhile, Mauritius, the neighboring tourist island, had shut down its main airport earlier in the week, as Reunion had done just a day before.
The French government announced the deployment of about 200 firefighters and civil aid workers from Mayotte, a French territory situated nearly 1,500 kilometers away, along with aid from mainland France. Military troops have also been put on standby to assist in recovery efforts.
Residents shared pictures on social media showcasing the extent of the destruction, with images of uprooted trees, torn-off roofs, and flooded homes flooding timelines. Entire streets were submerged, and vehicles were swept away by the surging waters.
Patrice Latron, the central government representative for the island, remarked on the extensive recovery efforts needed, stating, "A lot of work would be necessary with many roads blocked by fallen trees." He further noted that the conditions on the ground were dire: "Roads are flooded, roads are cut off, and some are washed away. Bridges have come down."
Latron also compared Cyclone Garance to a previous disaster, stating it was more severe than Cyclone Belal, which claimed four lives in La Reunion in January 2024. The ongoing situation highlights the vulnerability of the island to extreme weather events, underscoring the urgent need for effective disaster preparedness and response strategies in the region.
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