On March 7, 2025, Manuel Valls, the Minister of Overseas France, embarked on a two-day visit to the French territory of La Réunion, primarily to assess the devastation wrought by Cyclone Garance, which had swept through on February 28. This cyclone left notable destruction across the island, prompting urgent action from state officials.
Valls began his tour at Hell-Bourg, a picturesque village located within the Salazie circus. The community faced significant hurdles including relentless flooding, landslides, and blocked roads due to felled trees and electric wires. Here, Valls was greeted by residents grappling with the aftermath of the cyclone. "The urgency is to protect the populations, to provide housing for those who have lost their homes, and to restore damaged infrastructure," he stated, acknowledging both the plight of the people and the resilience they have shown.
A particularly emotional moment unfolded as Valls spoke with residents affected by the floodwaters. One villager recounted, "We saw the water rise very quickly, and within less than an hour, everything was underwater. It’s shocking. Luckily, we were able to find shelter, but many people lost everything." This exchange highlighted the urgency of restoring normal living conditions for residents of these devastated areas.
After Hell-Bourg, Valls turned his attention to Saint-Paul, where the Grande Fontaine district had been hit hard by flooding from the ravine Bernica. The damages were monumental, with estimates ranging around 10 million euros. "What I am seeing here today is dramatic, and I can understand the distress of the residents. But the state is here to support, to rebuild, and to prepare for the future," Valls remarked during his visit, emphasizing the need for proactive measures against natural calamities.
He warned of the severe consequences of neglecting infrastructure maintenance, stating, "If we don't return to how things were done several years ago, we might face blockages during future incidents." This pivotal moment reinforced the government’s commitment to combating the rising challenges tied to climate change.
To facilitate the economic recovery, Valls presided over a significant round table discussion at the headquarters of the Territoire de la Côte Ouest (TCO) later in the afternoon. The gathering included political actors, local government officials, banking representatives, and stakeholders from the construction and tourism sectors. The table debated the immediate and long-term recovery strategies required after the cyclone’s destruction.
The discussion revealed heavy concern among business leaders, including Pierrick Robert, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Réunion, who stressed the need for improvements to bureaucratic processes. Robert located the administrative challenges as pressing hurdles for swift recovery efforts. He suggested extending partial unemployment benefits to the same levels experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also flagged severe damages across various sectors, particularly commerce and construction.
Patrick Serveaux, representing the hospitality sector, articulated the urgency of restoring La Réunion's image as a prime tourist destination, particularly with expectations riding on the forthcoming 200 million euros aimed at revitalizing the tourism industry. Valls responded affirmatively, stating, "We need to establish long-term plans for reconstruction, with upcoming relaunch strategies focusing on habitation, infrastructure, and climate adaptation expected to be unveiled by April 2025."
Valls also expressed plans for La Réunion’s participation at the regional summit set to occur at the end of April 2025 in Madagascar, indicating the importance of regional cooperation for effective recovery and resilience against climate-induced events.
Nevertheless, the uncertainties loomed large, as concerns were raised by local economists. “If the state does not react with strong measures soon,” Robert remarked, “we’re heading toward closures and job losses.” This pointed to the gravity of the situation and the need for immediate action from the authorities.
The backdrop of Valls’ visit is compounded by the fact of two consecutive natural disasters affecting French territories within just three months. Following the severe impact of Cyclone Chido on Mayotte back in December 2024, Cyclone Garance has significantly strained the government's response capacities. The minister acknowledged this pressing circumstance: “The work we need to do to rebuild two departments, two French territories, battered by successive natural disasters, is colossal. We are aware of the immense challenge, and the state will implement all necessary means to assist the populations.”
His comments draw attention to the urgent need for strengthened resilience against climate change, which has increasingly put the local population at risk during extreme weather events.
Manuel Valls' visit outlined both the urgency of immediate response and the long-term strategies necessary for recovery and prevention of future disasters. Through mobilizing both state support and community resilience, there is hope for proper recovery and rebuilding efforts across La Réunion.