Cyclone Garance, a category 3 cyclone carrying gusts of up to 70 kilometers an hour, was on Thursday deemed a "direct threat" to the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and La Reunion, placing both countries on high alert and prompting a race to stockpile of essentials.

Mauritius International Airport has been closed following a class 3 cyclone alert as Cyclone Garance approaches the island.

Cyclone Garance is approaching Mauritius, and authorities have been forced to close the island's only airport, leaving tourists unable to depart. All flights to and from Mauritius have been cancelled.

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,

Tropical cyclone Garance intensifies as it approaches Reunion Island, prompting severe weather warnings, while tropical storm Honde poses additional threats to Madagascar.

Cyclone Garance barrelled across La Reunion island on Friday killing three people as fierce winds left destruction across the French Indian Ocean territory, authorities said. Prefect Latron said that Garance was fiercer than cyclone Belal that killed four people on La Reunion in January 2024.

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 power and access to drinking water for many residents.

More than 180,000 households face power outages as cyclone wreaks havoc on the Indian Ocean island, authorities report.