On Friday, Tropical Cyclone Garance impacted Reunion Island with winds over 200 km/h and heavy rainfall, causing flooding, power outages, and property damage. Authorities reported 683 people in emergency shelters and warned residents to stay indoors under a red alert as conditions persist. No deaths have been reported, but 30% of homes are without power and 10% lack drinking water.
On Friday, residents of Reunion, a French Indian Ocean island, were advised to remain indoors as Tropical Cyclone Garance caused severe rain and wind gusts exceeding 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph). This cyclone led to flooding, power outages, and structural damage across the region. Authorities reported that 683 individuals took refuge in emergency shelters, while 54 were evacuated due to impending flood and landslide risks, though no fatalities have been reported.
Approximately 30% of residences experienced power outages, affecting nearly 10% of the island’s population of 885,000, who faced challenges accessing potable water. Strong winds have resulted in significant property damage, with roofs, doors, and windows being torn from buildings. Tarpaulins are being dispatched to provide emergency shelter in the most impacted areas, specifically the eastern portion of the island.
On Friday morning, the highest-level cyclone warning, known as the purple cyclone warning, was lifted, allowing for some rescue operations to commence. However, a red warning remains in effect, urging residents to stay indoors as heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected to continue throughout the day. Winds of up to 214 kilometers per hour have been recorded at the island’s main airport.
Reunion island is situated approximately 1,500 kilometers southeast of Mayotte, another French territory in the Indian Ocean, which recently suffered significant destruction from Cyclone Chido, where 40 deaths have been confirmed and 41 individuals remain unaccounted for. The local government expressed concern that the death toll could potentially rise further.
In summary, Tropical Cyclone Garance has severely impacted Reunion Island, leading to substantial damage and widespread power and water outages while prompting evacuations and shelter provisions for residents. Despite the lifting of the purple cyclone warning, a red warning persists, and residents are advised to remain indoors as adverse weather conditions are expected to continue. The situation underscores the vulnerability of island territories to severe cyclones, as seen in recent events in nearby Mayotte.
Original Source: apnews.com
