Cyclone Garance Triggers High Alert in Mauritius and La Reunion

Cyclone Garance, a Category 3 cyclone with 70 kph gusts, threatens Mauritius and La Reunion, prompting high alert and emergency measures. The cyclone is expected to bring significant flooding as it approaches. Retailers see increased demand for essentials as residents prepare for a lockdown following an airport closure. Local authorities advise good practice in anticipation of the impending storm.

Cyclone Garance, classified as a Category 3 cyclone with wind gusts reaching 70 kilometers per hour, posed a substantial risk to the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and La Reunion on Thursday. This prompted heightened alerts in both nations and initiated a rush to acquire essential supplies. Authorities deemed Garance a direct threat to these popular tourist locations, leading to emergency precautions across the islands.

In response to the escalating threat, Mauritius shut down its main airport on Wednesday, while La Reunion prepared to follow suit. The Mauritius Meteorological Service identified the cyclone as an intense tropical storm, currently located 310 kilometers northwest of Mauritius, and predicted significant flooding. The meteorological agency stressed the cyclone’s dangerous approach, emphasizing the need for immediate action from local governments and residents.

Garance was expected to curve south and pass dangerously close to La Reunion, leading the island’s officials to announce a red alert, with airport closures slated for Thursday. The prefecture of La Reunion indicated that the cyclone would be within 50 kilometers of the island between Thursday evening and early Friday morning. While clouds had gathered over La Reunion, no notable rainfall was reported as of Thursday morning.

As the red alert was set to commence at 7:00 PM, residents stocked up on vital supplies, bracing for enforced restrictions. This emergency notification required civilians to remain indoors, allowing only emergency services to operate. Lines in supermarkets stretched as individuals endeavored to procure goods before the lockdown, with one local lamenting, “I thought I had plenty of time to do my shopping, but I was wrong.”

Concurrently, local fishermen secured their boats in the port of Sainte-Marie, and farmers took preventative measures by protecting their crops. Jean-Christophe Hoareau, a local farmer, stated his decision to prioritize his greenhouses over cucumber vines to safeguard his main agricultural tools. The last significant red alert for La Reunion was declared in January 2024 during Cyclone Belal, which resulted in considerable casualties and damages.

Cyclone Garance has prompted urgent alerts in Mauritius and La Reunion, necessitating the implementation of emergency measures and public preparedness. With the cyclone’s dangerous trajectory threatening substantial impact and flooding, authorities are enforcing lockdowns and urging residents to stock essential supplies. The ongoing situation reflects the need for vigilance and efficient response amidst severe weather threats in the region.

Original Source: www.france24.com