Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Cyclone Garance hit the French overseas territory of La Réunion on February 9, 2025, causing widespread destruction and leaving at least four people dead.
The cyclone brought winds of up to 230 kilometres per hour, uprooting trees, damaging homes, and causing flash floods.
Among the victims, one man was found trapped under a fallen tree, while others were swept away by floods, caught in a mudslide, or killed by an electrical fire.
The storm left over 180,000 people without electricity and more than 170,000 without access to drinking water.
The island’s international airport was expected to reopen late Saturday, but flight disruptions had already affected La Réunion and neighbouring Mauritius.
About 200 firefighters and civil workers were deployed from mainland France and Mayotte to assist with recovery efforts.
Residents shared images of the devastation online, showing uprooted trees, destroyed roofs, and flooded streets. Many roads were blocked by fallen trees, and bridges were washed away.
Patrice Latron, a government representative on the island, warned that significant work was needed to clear the damage and restore infrastructure.
While the worst of the storm had passed by Friday evening, heavy rains remained a threat. Authorities continued to urge residents to stay indoors.
The storm alert was downgraded from the highest level, purple, to red, earlier in the day on Friday, which allowed rescue workers to leave their shelters and start to assess damage and help those affected.
The force of the storm was described as frightening by residents, with some fearing for their safety as homes were battered by the powerful winds.
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