The cyclone, which crossed the island from north to south between Friday and Saturday, killed at least four people. It also caused extensive damage, notably due to very heavy rainfall.

One person died, and two were missing, after cyclone Garance slammed into the French overseas territory of La Reunion with top wind speeds of 155 kph (96 mph) on Friday, the local prefect told franceinfo broadcaster.

The Indian Ocean tourist meccas of Mauritius and La Reunion braced Thursday for an intense tropical storm, Cyclone Garance, which was labelled a "direct threat" to the islands. Mauritius shut its main airport the previous day, while the nearby French island of La Reunion was set to do the same on Thursday.

Winds of up to 230 kilometers per hour battered the French Indian Ocean territory of 900,000 people. The storm earlier forced the closure of the main airport on nearby Mauritius.

At least four people died after cyclone Garance struck the French overseas territory of La Reunion on Friday, bringing wind speeds of up to 155 kph (96 mph), local authorities said on Saturday. "Garance has been downgraded to a strong tropical storm and the red alert has been lifted,

At least two people were killed as Cyclone Garance slammed the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, blowing away roofs and cutting power and access to drinking water for many residents. Garance landed

Cyclone Garance slammed into the French overseas territory of La Reunion with top wind speeds of 155 kph (96 mph) on Friday, blowing away roofs and cutting

Authorities in the French overseas territory of La Reunion said on Saturday (March 1) that cyclone Garance, which made landfall on Friday, had killed four people. David Doyle has more.

Residents of the Indian Ocean islands Mauritius and La Reunion rushed to stockpile essential items on Thursday, as Cyclone Garance approached the two territories. The storm, which is expected to pass 50 kilometers from La Reunion's shores,