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.

The Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and La Reunion were on high alert Thursday for an intense tropical storm, Cyclone Garance, labelled a "direct threat" to the tourist destinations. The Mauritius Meteorological Service said the cyclone was 310 kilometres (190 miles) northwest of the island and had become an "intense tropical storm".

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.

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

The sole airport in Mauritius is scheduled to shut down from Wednesday evening until further notice after the country’s meteorological services raised a cyclone warning to Class III for the first time in the current summer season.