French police say at least three people have been killed when a tropical storm packing fierce winds and torrential rains thumped the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion.

Tropical Cyclone Garance hit the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion, bringing heavy rain and winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph) that caused floods and damage to buildings

Réunion island issued its highest level of threat warning as the French Indian Ocean territory braced for a direct hit by a cyclone packing gusts likely to exceed 200 kilometers per hour (124 miles per hour).