Tropical Cyclone Garance wreaked havoc on the French Indian Ocean island of Réunion on Friday, resulting in at least three fatalities, turning the picturesque locale, known for its mountainous terrain, upside down. The storm, which made landfall on the northern coast, brought fierce winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph) and torrential rain, prompting local authorities to declare emergency measures.
The severe weather conditions led to widespread damage, leaving approximately 182,000 residents without power and cutting off access to drinking water for 171,000 others. Many buildings sustained significant destruction, with strong winds ripping off roofs, doors, and windows. The national police confirmed the three deaths but provided no additional details about the circumstances surrounding these tragedies.
The authorities responded swiftly to the disaster, with 847 people seeking refuge in emergency shelters. An additional 54 individuals were evacuated due to the heightened risk of flooding and landslides, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Strong winds recorded at Réunion’s main airport reached up to 214 kilometers per hour, as noted by the national weather agency Meteo France. The storm was classified as being equivalent to a Category 2 Atlantic hurricane—one of the strongest tempests to impact the territory in decades. Prior to Garance, the last storm of such magnitude was Tropical Cyclone Firinga, which hit the island back in January 1989.
Initially, the island was placed under the highest level of warning, dubbed the purple cyclone warning. This was later downgraded to a red warning as conditions began to stabilize. Nevertheless, authorities urged residents to remain indoors as heavy rainfall and blustery winds continued throughout the day.
The damage was aggravated by the island's vulnerability to such storms. Garance tracked over the mountainous regions of Réunion, complicate rescue efforts and causing extensive delayed assistance according to local reports. Tarpaulins were dispatched to the hardest-hit areas to offer temporary shelter to those affected.
National weather agencies had predicted rainfall totals exceeding 200 mm (7.8 inches), contributing to concerns over potential flooding and landslides. With people still recovering from the previous cyclone, Cyclone Chido—which left emphatic destruction on the nearby French territory of Mayotte, where it killed at least 31 people—the response to Garance has faced scrutiny. The government of President Emmanuel Macron has come under fire for perceived mismanagement and slow response times after the previous cyclonic incident.
During Macron’s visit to Réunion following Cyclone Chido, local citizens expressed their discontentment with the government’s handling of disaster responses. Reports indicated he was met with jeers and dissatisfaction from locals, who felt ill-supported. Although he attempted to rally spirits, urging residents to feel grateful for being part of France, sentiments among the inhabitants remained tense following the latest cyclone's devastation.
Officials emphasized the need for urgent recovery solutions, and as of late Friday morning, the purple warning was lifted, allowing rescue services to assess and begin operations. Yet, the extent of Garance’s damage still loomed large, with the island expected to see bouts of heavy rain and continued strong winds for the next several days.
Concerns about flooding remain acute, especially as recovery efforts are just beginning. Many areas are struggling to regain basic services, and restoring power could take time due to the extent of destruction. Island officials are closely monitoring the situation, providing continuous updates as residents process the aftermath of this formidable cyclone.
The impacts of Tropical Cyclone Garance highlight not only the immediate dangers posed by such extreme weather but also the broader vulnerabilities faced by island territories amid climate change. Réunion, sitting approximately 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) southeast of Madagascar, has experienced increasing frequency and ferocity of cyclones, raising alarms about preparedness and infrastructure resilience as storms continue to intensify.
Moving forward, authorities and local leaders are faced with the grand task of not only addressing the immediate fallout of Cyclone Garance but also preparing the island for the potential challenges posed by future climatic events. With residents still grappling with the scars of previous cyclones, the hope remains for swift recovery and stronger measures to safeguard against future disasters.