Cyclone Garance has resulted in at least four fatalities and widespread destruction on Reunion Island, leading to extensive flooding and loss of electricity and water for many residents. Recovery operations are in effect, with aid personnel mobilized from other regions, while the local infrastructure faces significant challenges due to the storm’s impact.
Cyclone Garance has tragically claimed the lives of at least four individuals on France’s Reunion Island, according to officials on Saturday. The cyclone struck the island early on Friday, causing widespread devastation that included flash floods, mudslides, and severe electrical storms, resulting in vast numbers of residents losing access to essential services such as water and electricity.
French authorities reported that the deceased included a man whose body was discovered trapped beneath a fallen tree, while two women and another man were lost to the intense floods and mudslides or perished from an electrical fire ignited by the storm.
More than 180,000 residents are currently without electricity, and over 170,000 are lacking access to water. The island’s international airport is scheduled to reopen later on Saturday after being closed due to the cyclone’s impacts. In parallel, the nearby Mauritius island had already shut its main airport earlier in the week.
In response to the destruction, approximately 200 firefighters and civil aid workers have been dispatched from Mayotte, a French territory located nearly 1,500 kilometers away, along with troops on standby to assist with the recovery efforts. Residents have shared distressing images on social media depicting the aftermath, which includes uprooted trees, damaged roofs, and severely flooded areas.
Patrice Latron, representing the central government on the island, noted that considerable efforts will be necessary to address the damaged infrastructure, emphasizing that “a lot of work” is required as roads remain blocked by fallen trees and inundated by water. He further remarked that the impacts of Cyclone Garance surpasses those of Cyclone Belal, which resulted in four fatalities on the island earlier this year.
In summary, Cyclone Garance has resulted in significant loss of life and widespread damage on Reunion Island, with numerous residents left without electricity and water. Extensive recovery efforts are underway, involving support from various French territories and emergency personnel. The situation has demonstrated the severe impacts of natural disasters on communities, highlighting the urgent need for effective disaster response strategies.
Original Source: www.france24.com
