Cyclone Garance: La Réunion on Red Alert and Crisis Management Underway

Crisis Meeting to Anticipate the Impact of Cyclone Garance

On February 27, a crisis meeting began at the Interministerial Crisis Management Operations Center (Cogic) to prepare for the approaching Cyclone Garance, which is rapidly closing in on La Réunion. In coordination with Cogic, the Ministry of the Interior announced that one hundred civil protection rescuers are ready to be deployed from Mayotte to La Réunion. Minister François-Noël Buffet was present to monitor the situation and anticipate the cyclone’s impact.

Red Alert and Population Confined

Starting at 7:00 PM local time (4:00 PM Paris time) on Thursday, La Réunion was placed under red cyclone alert, which means a complete lockdown of the population, with the exception of law enforcement and emergency services. Residents of La Réunion are required to stay indoors and identify a safe place. Weather conditions are expected to worsen quickly, with wind gusts reaching up to 200 km/h, particularly in the northern parts of the island, and waves potentially reaching up to 9 meters.

A Strengthening Cyclone Threatening the Island

Cyclone Garance, currently classified as a severe tropical cyclone (Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale), may strengthen further to Category 4 in the coming hours. By 5:00 PM local time, the cyclone measured about 400 km in diameter and was moving at 7 km/h, which is expected to accelerate overnight. The Ministry of the Interior warned that the cyclone could pass within 50 km of the island during the night from Thursday to Friday, with winds reaching 180 km/h.

Preparing for the Worst and Managing Rescue Efforts

Local authorities have mobilized 600 firefighters to work through the night to assist the population. The Prefect has requested that emergency services be ready to deploy as soon as the red alert is lifted and the airport is reopened. The public information service has been activated to keep the population informed of safety measures, and a public information cell (CIP) has been set up to provide guidance.

Maximum Vigilance and Potential Alerts

Weather conditions are expected to worsen further through the night. There is a possibility that a purple alert, the highest level of vigilance, will be issued during the night or early Friday morning, prohibiting all movement, including for law enforcement and emergency services. Authorities urge the population to avoid taking any risks and to stay informed in real time.