French President Emmanuel Macron has called for maximum vigilance as Cyclone Garance heads towards the French overseas island of Reunion. In a post on X, Macron urged citizens to take safety precautions seriously, with the promise that government forces were sent to provide assistance.
The authorities declared a red alert on Thursday as the powerful storm moved in from the north. Citizens were requested to stay indoors, seek shelter in safe areas of their homes, and prepare for possible water and power outages. Cyclone Garance is expected to bring winds of up to 155 km/h (96 mph) and is set to threaten the island heavily.
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Reunion served as a critical staging point for recent disaster response, serving as a staging point for authorities that are providing assistance to Mayotte, which suffered hard from Cyclone Chido in December. Chido was the worst damage ever to occur to Mayotte in 90 years, with an official toll of 35 people killed, though authorities speculate the actual death toll is more likely to be greatly in excess of that.
As Cyclone Garance approaches, emergency responders remain on alert, and authorities continue to emphasize preparedness.
