Cyclone Garance Strikes Reunion Island, Resulting in Fatalities and Destruction
Cyclone Garance has resulted in three deaths on Reunion Island, where it caused widespread power outages and infrastructure damage. Wind speeds reached 234 km/h, prompting maximum emergency alerts. Local authorities are mobilizing resources to assist, while the cyclone’s effects are being monitored closely.
Cyclone Garance has tragically claimed the lives of three individuals as it impacted Reunion, a French territory located in the Indian Ocean. With wind gusts reaching up to 234 km/h (145 mph), the cyclone caused significant disruptions. Over 180,000 households lost power, and 170,000 experienced lack of running water following the storm’s landfall on Friday morning.
The entirety of the island’s population, including emergency personnel and law enforcement, were instructed to remain indoors as a maximum alert level was activated. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou cautioned residents via social media about the ongoing threat posed by the cyclone, noting that heavy rains were anticipated to persist through Friday evening.
Prefect Patrice Latron characterized the conditions as “brutal and violent,” indicating they surpassed those experienced during Cyclone Belal in January 2024, which resulted in four fatalities. Garance made landfall in northern Reunion at 10:00 AM local time and cleared the island by late afternoon, as reported by Meteo France.
Authorities downgraded the alert level by midday, permitting emergency services and police to emerge from their shelters. The 234 km/h wind speed was unprecedented on the island since Cyclone Hollanda in February 1994. Vincent Clain, a 45-year-old resident from the northern coast, expressed, “This is the first time I’ve seen a cyclone this powerful, and also the first time I’ve been afraid.”
In light of the cyclone’s destruction, 100 troops and firefighters are prepared to deploy from the French territory of Mayotte, which is nearly 1,500 km (930 miles) away, as well as an additional 100 from mainland France. Additionally, a 55-year-old man reportedly went missing while swimming in hazardous seas near Mauritius on Wednesday.
France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau remarked that Cyclone Garance exhibited “rare intensity,” while Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed that armed forces are ready to provide necessary assistance.
In summary, Cyclone Garance has had a devastating impact on Reunion Island, resulting in three fatalities and widespread infrastructure damage. The storm produced extreme wind gusts and left a significant portion of the population without power or water. Emergency services have been deployed to mitigate the fallout, and local authorities are vigilant as additional weather-related threats loom. The incident underscores the ferocity of natural disasters and the importance of preparedness.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
