Cyclone Garance in Réunion: Human Toll and Major Damage

The tropical cyclone Garance hit Réunion Island with devastating intensity, causing at least two deaths and leaving the island severely affected.

Human Toll and Victims

The island’s prefecture confirmed two deaths linked to the severe weather:

• A woman in her fifties drowned in the Domenjod area, as announced by Prefect Patrice Latron on franceinfo.
• A man was killed in a fire of electrical origin, according to a statement from the prefecture to AFP.

Additionally, one person is reported missing in Trois Bassins, a commune in the west of the island.

Infrastructure Damage

The storm caused significant damage:

• 180,000 households without electricity (one-third of EDF customers).
• 80,000 people without access to drinking water.
• 114,000 subscribers without phone service (35% of users).
• 175 mobile relays down, representing 14% of the island’s infrastructure.

The prefecture reported that many roofs and openings did not withstand the force of the winds. Nearly 100 civil security soldiers and firefighters are ready to come from Mayotte to provide reinforcements as soon as conditions allow.

Cyclone Strength and Weather Conditions

According to Météo-France, the cyclone generated exceptional wind gusts:

• 214 km/h at the international airport in the north of the island.
• 230 km/h at Piton Sainte-Rose, in the far east.

Although the cyclone is now moving away to the south, violent winds persist between Saint-Leu and Saint-Joseph, along with heavy rainfall in the west and south of the island.

Situation Update

After the lifting of the purple alert, the island returned to red alert earlier in the day. The prefecture reassured that the most destructive winds are receding but urged caution as weather conditions remain unstable.