Cyclone Garance causes destruction in La Reunion
Cyclone Garance hit La Reunion island on Friday, causing significant damage and fatalities. The violent storm, with winds reaching 230 kilometers (143 miles) per hour, devastated the French territory in the Indian Ocean. At least two people were killed, and one person remains missing. One woman, believed to have been swept away by torrential waters after being sucked into a sewer pipe, and a man lost his life in an electrical fire. The island's population of 900,000 was severely affected, with 180,000 households losing power, 80,000 without water, and 114,000 people losing mobile phone coverage.
Images shared by residents showed uprooted trees, destroyed roofs, and flooded homes. Streets were submerged, and cars were carried away by the floodwaters. Many described the experience as terrifying, with some saying it was the most intense storm they'd ever encountered.
Authorities issued a maximum alert, ordering residents to stay indoors for safety. While the storm's fiercest winds and rain began to subside, the island continued to experience strong winds and heavy rainfall. The cyclone made landfall on the northern coast before moving south and out to sea. Authorities compared its strength to Cyclone Belal, which struck the island in January 2024 and caused four deaths.
Emergency services were dispatched, and some 700 people sought refuge in shelters. France’s Interior Minister described the cyclone as having "rare intensity," with additional troops and firefighters prepared to assist once conditions allowed.
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