Vincent Clain, 45, has lived on Réunion’s northern coast long enough to see his share of storms. Cyclone Garance was different. “This is the first time I’ve seen a cyclone this powerful, and also the first time I’ve been afraid,” he told AFP.
Three people died after the cyclone crossed the French Indian Ocean territory on Friday. BBC reporting put the top gusts at 234km/h (145mph), a speed not recorded on the island since Cyclone Hollanda in February 1994. Another report, carried by The Sudan Times, cited winds of up to 155 kph (96 mph); Prime Minister François Bayrou confirmed that at least three people had died.
Landfall and lockdown
Garance came ashore in the north at 10:00 local time (06:00 GMT), according to the weather agency Météo France. It moved south and was gone from the island by late afternoon. Roofs were torn off. More than 180,000 homes lost power and 170,000 lost running water, the BBC reported. The local prefecture put the outage at 180,000 households, about 42% of the island’s electricity customers, with nearly 10% facing water shortages.
The authorities ordered the whole population indoors, police and emergency services included, and set the alert at its maximum level. By midday the level had come down, which let police and rescuers leave their shelters. Officials downgraded the alert from purple to red, and teams began damage checks. A stay-at-home order stayed in force, with warnings that dangerous conditions could last through the day.
“The cyclone is still a threat to the island. I urge everyone to follow local authorities’ instructions,” Bayrou posted on X.
Help on standby
Around 100 troops and firefighters were waiting on the French territory of Mayotte, nearly 1,500km (930 miles) away, to fly in once conditions allowed. Another 100 were ready on mainland France. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau called the storm one of “rare intensity”, and Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the armed forces stood ready to help.
Météo France warned that gusts of 80-100 kph could continue overnight, with heavy rain now the biggest risk. Conditions were expected to improve by Saturday. In neighbouring Mauritius, where a 55-year-old man had gone missing on Wednesday after swimming in rough seas, the airport reopened as the threat faded.
Sources
- Cyclone Garance kills three as it sweeps through Reunion island
- Cyclone Garance hits La Réunion, killing three, knocking out power – The Sudan Times
