Tropical Cyclone Garance struck Réunion Island on February 28, 2025, resulting in four fatalities and damaging infrastructure that left over 180,000 households without power, water, and internet. The cyclone reached winds of up to 234 km/h, causing widespread destruction. Emergency assistance is being mobilized to support the affected population as conditions improve.
Tropical Cyclone Garance made impact on the northern coast of Réunion Island at 10:00 local time on February 28, 2025. This severe storm, categorized as intense with sustained winds reaching 155 km/h (95 mph) and gusts exceeding 200 km/h (125 mph), tragically resulted in the loss of at least four lives. Thousands were left without access to electricity, water, and internet services due to significant infrastructural damage.
The cyclone’s peak winds were recorded at 214 km/h (133 mph) at Gillot Airport, marking the highest gust recorded since Cyclone Jenny in 1962. In certain regions, wind speeds reached an astonishing 234 km/h (145 mph), a level comparable to those experienced during Cyclone Hollanda in 1994. However, Cyclone Dina in 2002 remains the record holder, with gusts surpassing 279 km/h.
The onset of Cyclone Garance has been described as “brutal and violent,” significantly harsher than Cyclone Belal, which also caused fatalities in January 2024, according to Prefect Patrice Latron. The cyclone resulted in extensive destruction across the island, affecting over 182,000 households by cutting off electricity, impacting 171,000 water sources, and disconnecting internet access for approximately 134,000 residents. The cyclone caused extensive damage, including uprooted trees and damaged roadways.
As of March 1, emergency reports confirmed four fatalities, though preliminary assessments had only noted three. Cyclone Garance weakened to a strong tropical storm by late Friday afternoon, March 1, after transitioning across Réunion, prompting the lifting of the red alert. Residents were still advised to exercise caution due to hazards including downed power lines and flooding.
France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau remarked on the cyclone’s “rare intensity,” while Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu indicated that military assistance was being mobilized. Approximately 100 troops and firefighters from Mayotte, situated nearly 1,500 km away, remained on alert for deployment, alongside 100 from mainland France, prepared to assist when conditions allow.
Tropical Cyclone Garance has caused significant destruction on Réunion Island, resulting in four reported fatalities and leaving many residents without essential services. Despite the weakening of the cyclone, ongoing hazards remain. The extraordinary strength of the cyclone has prompted emergency responses from the French government, showcasing the resilience and preparedness of authorities in the face of such natural disasters.
Original Source: watchers.news
