Cyclone Garance Causes Disruptions on Reunion Island, Residents Advised to Remain Indoors

Cyclone Garance struck Reunion Island, prompting stay-at-home orders due to heavy rain and winds exceeding 200 km/h. Emergency shelters were activated, and significant infrastructure damage was reported, with power and water access issues surfacing among residents. Fortunately, there have been no fatalities linked to the cyclone, although conditions remain critical, necessitating continued precautionary measures.

On Friday, Tropical Cyclone Garance impacted the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion, prompting local authorities to advise residents to stay indoors. The cyclone brought intense rain and wind speeds surpassing 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph), leading to flooding, power outages, and structural damage throughout the area. Authorities reported that 683 individuals sought shelter in emergency accommodations, while 54 residents were evacuated due to flooding and landslide risks. Fortunately, no fatalities have been recorded amid the adverse conditions.

Approximately 30% of households on the island experienced power loss, and nearly 10% of the 885,000 residents were reported to be without access to potable water. Damaging winds caused roofs, doors, and windows to be torn off buildings, prompting the provision of tarpaulins to the most affected regions, particularly in the eastern part of the island.

As of Friday morning, the highest-level purple cyclone warning was lifted, allowing rescue services to commence operations. Nevertheless, a red warning remained in effect as heavy rain and powerful winds were anticipated to continue throughout the day. The French national weather agency Meteo France recorded wind speeds reaching 214 kilometers per hour at the main airport of Reunion.

Reunion island is situated approximately 1,500 kilometers southeast of Mayotte, another French territory that suffered immense devastation just last December due to Cyclone Chido. This previous cyclone resulted in 40 confirmed fatalities and 41 individuals who are currently missing or presumed buried under debris, raising further concerns for additional casualties.

In summary, Cyclone Garance has resulted in significant challenges for the residents of Reunion, with power outages, lack of drinking water, and structural damage being reported. While emergency shelters have been established and no deaths were recorded, conditions remain severe, necessitating continued caution among residents as the storm persists. The recent history of cyclones in the region underscores the ongoing vulnerabilities faced by these communities.

Original Source: apnews.com