Cyclone Garance Leaves La Réunion Devastated with Four Dead and Widespread Destruction

The storm brought winds over 200 km/h, flooding, and power outages, displacing hundreds and leaving thousands without basic necessities.

Cyclone Garance struck La Réunion on February 28, killing four people and injuring five, with significant damage reported across the island.
Approximately 120,000 residents remain without electricity, and over 310,000 are without access to clean drinking water as of Saturday evening.
The storm caused extensive flooding and landslides, with roads, bridges, and homes destroyed, leaving parts of the island inaccessible.
Emergency response efforts include the deployment of national reinforcements, with additional firefighters, gendarmes, and security personnel arriving to assist in recovery operations.
Local residents are grappling with trauma and loss, as many describe harrowing survival stories and begin the arduous process of cleaning and rebuilding.