Cyclone Garance Devastates Réunion Island, Leaving Thousands Affected

Cyclone Garance struck Réunion Island causing at least four deaths and leaving hundreds of thousands without water and electricity. With unprecedented wind speeds, the cyclone was the strongest since 1989. Urgent aid has been mobilized, and significant damage assessment is underway.

A devastating impact was felt on Réunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, as Cyclone Garance wreaked havoc, resulting in at least four fatalities and leaving hundreds of thousands without essential services. The cyclone made landfall on February 28, bringing wind speeds surpassing 200 kilometers per hour, marking it as the strongest storm since Tropical Cyclone Firinga in 1989.

The storm’s aftermath led to more than 180,000 residents losing electricity and approximately 310,000 struggling without water. This catastrophic event forced nearly 1,000 individuals into temporary shelters, as officials began to assess the situation and provide necessary aid. The chaotic weather conditions prompted significant fears among the local population, with one resident articulating his anxiety over the unprecedented cyclone’s intensity.

In response to the crisis, the French government dispatched 200 firefighters and aid workers from France and Mayotte, aiming to assist the affected areas. Tarpaulins were distributed in the eastern region of the island to serve as emergency shelters for those hardest hit. Notably, similar circumstances unfolded in nearby Mayotte, where Cyclone Chido recently caused significant destruction and continued to leave people missing.

Patrice Latron, Réunion’s central government representative, acknowledged the urgent need to clear roads obstructed by fallen trees. Airports in both Réunion and Mauritius were compelled to suspend operations due to the cyclone’s fury. Furthermore, Cyclone Garance was one of six tropical cyclones simultaneously active in the Southern Hemisphere, demonstrating an unusual occurrence of such events overlapping within a single ocean basin.

Cyclone Garance has left a lasting impact on Réunion Island, resulting in fatalities, widespread disruption of services, and a significant humanitarian response. The strength of this storm, the most severe in decades, has raised concerns among residents about future cyclones. Continued government efforts to provide support and restore normalcy are essential in the wake of this disaster.

Original Source: news.mongabay.com