In a dramatic turn of events, residents of the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion found themselves in the throes of a powerful natural disaster as Tropical Cyclone Garance descended upon the land with unrelenting force. The island was plunged into chaos as heavy rain and winds surpassing speeds of 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph) unleashed a wave of destruction, leading to floods, power outages, and structural damage to buildings.
The authorities at the Reunion prefecture issued a stern warning, advising all inhabitants to remain indoors for their safety as the cyclone made its presence known. A total of 683 individuals sought refuge in emergency shelters, with an additional 54 being evacuated as a precautionary measure against the looming threats of flooding and landslides. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties as a result of the calamity.
The aftermath of the cyclone left a significant portion of homes without electricity, affecting around 30% of the island’s residential properties. Moreover, nearly 10% of Reunion’s population, totaling 885,000 individuals, faced the challenge of limited access to clean drinking water, compounding the difficulties brought about by the disaster.
Reports from the prefecture detailed the extensive damage caused by the ferocious winds, which tore off roofs, doors, and windows from numerous buildings across the island. To address the urgent need for shelter in the hardest-hit areas, tarpaulins were swiftly dispatched to provide temporary relief, particularly in the eastern region.
As the morning dawned, the authorities took a step towards recovery by downgrading the cyclone warning to purple, the highest level, thereby enabling rescue operations to commence. However, a red warning remained in effect, prompting residents to continue to stay indoors as the inclement weather persisted with heavy rainfall and strong winds expected throughout the day.
The national meteorological agency, Meteo France, reported wind speeds peaking at a staggering 214 kilometers per hour at the island’s main airport, underscoring the intensity of the cyclone’s impact on Reunion.
Situated approximately 1,500 kilometers to the southeast, Reunion island stands as a stark reminder of the region’s vulnerability to such natural disasters. Just last December, the nearby French territory of Mayotte was struck by a devastating cyclone, marking the worst such event in nearly a century and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The aftermath of Cyclone Chido’s landfall resulted in 40 confirmed deaths, with an additional 41 individuals reported missing or feared to have perished, raising concerns of further casualties yet to be discovered.
