Cyclone Garance Devastates Réunion Island, Leaving Thousands Affected

Cyclone Garance struck Réunion Island, resulting in four fatalities and significant disruption to water and electricity services for hundreds of thousands. The storm is reported as the strongest to impact the island since 1989, prompting substantial recovery efforts by the French government. Concurrently, multiple cyclones were active in the Southern Hemisphere, illustrating unusual weather phenomena.

Cyclone Garance has devastated Réunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, tragically resulting in the deaths of at least four individuals and leaving hundreds of thousands without essential services such as water and electricity. This intense storm, which made landfall on February 28, exhibited wind speeds surpassing 200 kilometers per hour (124 miles per hour), with gusts recorded at an alarming 214 km/h (133 mph) at the island’s primary airport.

The cyclone caused severe flooding, leading to fatalities due to flash floods, mudslides, and wind-related incidents. Following the storm, over 180,000 residents experienced power outages, while approximately 310,000 were deprived of water. Close to 1,000 people required temporary shelter due to the extent of the damage.

According to local resident Vincent Clain, “This is the first time I’ve seen a cyclone this powerful, and also the first time I’ve been afraid.” The French government has dispatched 200 firefighters and aid workers from mainland France and Mayotte to assist with relief efforts, as tarpaulins have been sent to provide shelter for those most affected.

Réunion’s central government representative, Patrice Latron, emphasized that extensive efforts are required to clear roads obstructed by fallen trees. Additionally, both Réunion and Mauritius had to close their airports due to the cyclone’s impact. Garance holds the distinction of being the most powerful storm to strike Réunion since Tropical Cyclone Firinga in 1989.

Last week, Cyclone Garance was among six tropical cyclones concurrently active in the Southern Hemisphere. Other storms included Severe Tropical Storm Honde in the Mozambique Channel and Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred northeast of Australia, highlighting the unusual occurrence of so many cyclones in a single ocean basin, as noted by Lauren Herdman of MetDesk.

In summary, Cyclone Garance has inflicted significant damage on Réunion Island, claiming lives and disrupting essential services for hundreds of thousands of residents. The French government has mobilized resources to support recovery efforts amidst this catastrophic event, which is noted as one of the most powerful storms in recent history. The concurrent activity of multiple tropical cyclones further underscores the severity of weather patterns in the region.

Original Source: news.mongabay.com