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

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,

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

Cyclone Garance barrelled across La Reunion island on Friday killing at least two people as fierce winds left destruction across the French Indian Ocean territory, authorities said.

The Mauritius Meteorological Service has issued a Class 3 cyclone warning for the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and La Reunion. Both islands remain on high alert as Cyclone Garance is expected to