One person has died and two others are missing after cyclone Garance made landfall in French overseas territory, La Reunion with top speeds of 96 mph.
Local authorities say that the cyclone which made landfall in the north of the Island blew away roofs and cut access to power and drinking water for many residents when it hit on Friday.
It exited the southwest of the Island several hours later the Meteo France weather agency said.
"Things are improving in the north of La Reunion island but ... not on high points in the west," prefect Patrice Latron said, pointing to heavy rainfall.
The prefecture had said earlier that 180,000 households - about 42% of the electricity utility's customers - had lost power, and nearly 10% had no access to drinking water.
A mandatory order for residents to stay indoors remained in place and authorities expected rough weather conditions until at least the end of the day.
Top winds had dropped to 130 kph (80 mph), Meteo France said, but higher gusts were possible on the southwest of the island, with heavy rains now seen as a bigger risk.
This meant rescue workers could now leave their shelters and start to assess damage and help those affected.
In nearby Mauritius, authorities also reopened the airport after the threat from the storm eased.
Read next
23:00
tariff talks
U.S. President Donald Trump will personally attend a key meeting with Japanese trade officials on Wednesday, signaling his direct involvement in negotiations stemming from his recent wave of tariffs on global imports.
22:30
Election Delay
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has postponed the next presidential election by several months, fueling speculation about his intention to seek a second term. The move allows him to complete his full six-year mandate and marks a potential shift toward greater political consolidation.
21:51
Congo
A passenger boat caught fire and capsized late Tuesday on the Congo River, killing at least 50 people and leaving hundreds more missing, officials confirmed Wednesday. The tragedy occurred near the northwestern town of Mbandaka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
17:00
EstLink 2
Finnish power grid operator Fingrid announced on Wednesday that repairs to the damaged EstLink 2 subsea power line, which connects Finland and Estonia, will begin in May, with the line expected to return to commercial use by July 15, 2025.
15:16
critical mineral
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Secretary of Commerce to launch an investigation into the country’s heavy reliance on imported critical minerals.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment