At least three people have died after Cyclone Garance struck the French overseas territory of La Reunion island with wind speeds reaching 155 mph (96 mph), according to French police.
The cyclone made landfall Friday on the northern coast of the Indian Ocean island east of Madagascar, causing widespread damage including blown-off roofs while cutting power and drinking water access for numerous residents.
After several hours, the storm exited through the southwest of the island, with Meteo France weather agency confirming the worst had passed. Authorities subsequently downgraded the storm alert from the highest “purple” level to “red,” allowing emergency workers to emerge from shelters and begin damage assessment and rescue operations.
Despite this downgrade, residents remained under a mandatory shelter-in-place order as heavy rainfall became the primary concern after wind speeds decreased. Weather conditions were expected to improve by Saturday.
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou urged caution on social media: “The cyclone is still a threat to the island, I call on all to follow local authorities’ instructions. Our thoughts are with them and their loved ones who have been hit hard.”
Earlier reports from the prefecture indicated that approximately 180,000 households—about 42 percent of electricity customers—lost power, while nearly 10 percent had no access to drinking water. The international airports on La Reunion and the nearby tourist destination of Mauritius closed during the storm, with La Reunion’s facility scheduled to reopen late Saturday.
Residents described terrifying experiences during the cyclone’s peak. “This is the first time I’ve seen a cyclone this powerful, and also the first time I’ve been afraid,” said Vincent Clain, 45, from Sainte-Marie on the northern coast. He told AFP that trees in his garden were uprooted, and he feared they would crash into his house. Clain sheltered in his kitchen with his wife, son, and dog, describing it as “the safest area of the house.”
Another resident, Aline Etheve from coastal Sainte-Suzanne, expressed concern about her roof potentially collapsing after the storm destroyed her garden fence. “I must admit I’m a little scared,” she said, noting that both power and Wi-Fi access were lost during the cyclone.
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