On La Reunion, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, Cyclone Garance has caused significant destruction, leaving over 180,000 households without power and affecting water supply for nearly 10 percent of the population, according to authorities. The cyclone, which made landfall on February 28, 2025, brought wind speeds up to 155m/h (96mph), resulted in the deaths of at least three people, and led to damaged roofs and fallen trees across the island.

Meteo France, the French weather agency, reported that the cyclone impacted northern La Reunion before moving away from the island several hours later. Initially labeled with the highest storm alert level, purple, the warning was downgraded to red, enabling rescue workers to start assessing damage and providing assistance. Despite the decreased wind speeds, which brought a reduction in the storm’s severity and allowed residents to venture out, heavy rain became the main concern, with authorities maintaining orders for people to stay indoors.

The mandate to stay inside was in place because conditions were expected to improve on Saturday. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou urged the inhabitants to adhere to local authorities’ directives, acknowledging the cyclone’s ongoing threat and expressing sympathy for those affected.

Tourist activities were also affected, with the main airport in neighboring Mauritius closing on Wednesday and La Reunion halting flights on Thursday. The international airport in La Reunion was slated to reopen on the evening of Saturday.

Residents described their experience with the cyclone as stressful, with one individual witnessing the uprooting of trees in his garden for the first time and expressing fear for the safety of his home. Another resident worried about the potential collapse of her roof after the garden fence was destroyed and noted the loss of power and internet access.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/1/three-dead-as-cyclone-garance-wrecks-frances-la-reunion-island?traffic_source=rss