Cyclone Garance Causes Devastation and Loss of Life on Reunion Island

Cyclone Garance has resulted in at least four fatalities on France’s Reunion Island due to severe flooding and mudslides. Hundreds of thousands are without water or electricity, and emergency services are responding to extensive destruction. The cyclone’s wind speeds were recorded at 230 kilometers per hour, leading to blocked roads and destroyed infrastructure.

Cyclone Garance has tragically claimed the lives of at least four individuals on France’s Reunion Island, as reported by local authorities. The storm made landfall early on Friday, causing flash floods, mudslides, and severe electrical storms, leaving hundreds of thousands without access to essential services such as water and electricity.

The fatalities from Cyclone Garance include a man found trapped beneath uprooted trees and three victims—two women and another man—who succumbed to flash floods, a mudslide, or an electrical fire ignited by the storm. The cyclone brought devastating winds of up to 230 kilometers (143 miles) per hour across the island, which has a population of approximately 900,000.

In the aftermath of the cyclone, over 180,000 residents were reported to be without electricity, and more than 170,000 were without water. The island’s international airport was scheduled to reopen late Saturday, while Mauritius, an adjacent tourist island, had closed its main airport earlier in the week due to the approaching storm.

A response team comprising approximately 200 firefighters and civil aid workers is being dispatched from Mayotte and mainland France to aid recovery efforts. Patrice Latron, the central government representative on the island, indicated that blocked roads due to fallen trees would require significant effort to restore access and services.

Latron remarked on the severity of the cyclone, noting, “Garance was fiercer than cyclone Belal that killed four people on Reunion in January 2024,” indicating the heightened impact of this latest storm. Reports from residents reveal extensive damage, including uprooted trees, roofs stripped from buildings, and extensive flooding across streets and properties.

In summary, Cyclone Garance has wrought considerable destruction on Reunion Island, leading to numerous casualties and widespread outages. The storm’s intense winds and resulting natural disasters have overwhelmed the local infrastructure and prompted extensive emergency responses. Recovery efforts are underway, yet the full extent of damages and necessary repairs will require significant time and resources.

Original Source: www.france24.com