At least three people have died after Cyclone Garance battered the French island of La Réunion on Friday, bringing powerful winds of up to 155 kph (96 mph), Prime Minister François Bayrou confirmed.
The storm made landfall in the island’s north, tearing off roofs, knocking out power, and disrupting water supplies before moving southwest several hours later, according to Météo France.
Authorities downgraded the storm alert from the highest level, purple, to red, allowing emergency teams to begin damage assessments and assist affected residents. However, a stay-at-home order remains in effect, with officials warning that hazardous weather conditions could persist through the day.
“The cyclone is still a threat to the island. I urge everyone to follow local authorities’ instructions,” Bayrou posted on X.
Earlier, the local prefecture reported that 180,000 households—about 42% of the island’s electricity customers—were without power, while nearly 10% faced water shortages.
Although wind speeds have weakened, Météo France cautioned that gusts of 80-100 kph could continue overnight, with heavy rainfall now posing the biggest risk. Weather conditions are expected to improve by Saturday.
In neighboring Mauritius, authorities have reopened the airport as the storm threat diminishes.
