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.

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.

The international airport of Mauritius was shut down Wednesday following a class 3 cyclone alert, Air Mauritius said in a statement.

Air India has announced the cancellation of flights to and from Mauritius on February 28, 2025, due to operational restrictions at Mauritius Airport caused by Cyclone Garance.

The country’s meteorological services raised a cyclone warning to Class III for the first time in the current summer season

A tropical storm has forced the closure of Mauritius international airport. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) International airport will be closed from 7pm local time on February 26 “until further notice,” the Foreign Office warned. An updated travel advisory said: “A cyclone warning is currently in force in Mauritius.