Cyclone Garance barrelled throughout La Reunion island on Friday killing a minimum of two individuals as fierce winds left destruction throughout the French Indian Ocean territory, authorities mentioned.
Winds of as much as 230 kilometres (143 miles) per hour battered the territory of 900,000 individuals and the storm earlier pressured the closure of the primary airport on close by Mauritius.
One lady in her 50s and was in all probability sucked right into a sewer pipe and swept away in torrential water, the native prefect mentioned, describing the storm as “brutal and violent”.
A person, was killed in {an electrical} fireplace and one other particular person was lacking, the prefecture mentioned.
Some 180,000 households had been with out energy, 80,000 with out water whereas 114,000 individuals had misplaced cell phone protection, in response to authorities.
Residents posted photos on-line of uprooted bushes, torn-off roofs and flooded properties. Total streets had been inundated and automobiles washed away.
“I watched my automobile being overturned by the torrent, and there was nothing I may do,” mentioned Adrien, a resident of Saint-Andre on the northeastern coast, who declined to provide his final identify.
– ‘First time I’ve been afraid’ –
Authorities imposed a most alert for a number of hours Friday, confining all the inhabitants — together with legislation enforcement and emergency companies — to properties and places of work.
That was eased in order that police and emergency companies may get out however authorities nonetheless ordered the remainder of the inhabitants to stay indoors.
Prefect Patrice Latron informed reporters that Garance was fiercer than Cyclone Belal that killed 4 individuals on La Reunion in January 2024.
Garance landed on the island’s north and barrelled south earlier than heading again out to sea.
Whereas the violent gusts and torrential rain eased, heavy rain and robust winds endured.
Residents mentioned the drive of the cyclone was scary.
“That is the primary time I’ve seen a cyclone this highly effective, and in addition the primary time I’ve been afraid,” mentioned Vincent Clain, 45, who lives in Sainte-Marie on the northern coast.
He informed AFP by phone that the storm had uprooted bushes in his backyard. “I assumed they’d crash onto the home,” he mentioned.
Clain, his spouse, their son and canine hid of their kitchen, “the most secure space of the home”.
Aline Etheve, a resident of Sainte-Suzanne on the coast, mentioned she was anxious the roof of her home would collapse after the storm destroyed her backyard fence.
“I need to admit I’m somewhat scared,” she informed AFP, including that her energy and wifi entry had been gone.
Near 700 individuals took shelter in emergency constructions throughout the island.
– ‘Uncommon depth’ –
Round 100 troops and firefighters had been to be dispatched from Mayotte — a French territory practically 1,500 kilometres (greater than 930 miles) away — as quickly as climate circumstances allow. One other 100 had been to go there from mainland France.
La Reunion and Mauritius — round 225 kilometres to the northeast — had been on excessive alert since Wednesday.
Mauritius shut its most important airport on Wednesday, whereas La Reunion did the identical on Thursday.
France’s Inside Minister Bruno Retailleau mentioned Friday that Garance was of a “uncommon depth”, whereas Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu mentioned armed forces stood prepared to offer help.
Within the capital Saint-Denis, residents had scrambled to refill on necessities earlier than the alert was raised.
Farmers dismantled greenhouses and fishermen pulled boats onto land. “It’s a feeling of being powerless,” mentioned Jean-Christophe Hoareau, a farmer.
Marie Rose Gaze, 61, who lives in Saint-Denis informed AFP that she had seen “all types of issues” blown out of a constructing throughout from her residence. “Satellite tv for pc dishes, garments strains and even chunks of cement.”
At one level she feared “the entire constructing
would come down”, she mentioned.
