Officials in the Reunion commune of Saint-André used a photo of a Breton stadium to justify damages from the 2025 Cyclone Garance. This anomaly, spotted by the prefecture, raises doubts about the sincerity of the claims and fuels opposition to the mayor. The prefect warned the elected official about these irregularities in a letter dated December 18, 2025.
Cyclone Garance struck Reunion on February 28, 2025, causing significant damage that prompted compensation claims to the state. In this context, the commune of Saint-André, on the island's east coast, submitted a file to secure funds through the post-Garance future pact, spanning 2025-2027.
A glaring error was uncovered: to support the claim for the Soune-Seyne stadium in the Cambuston neighborhood, municipal services attached a photo of a tribune roof torn off at Brest's Francis-Le Blé stadium in Finistère. This image actually came from Storm Ciaran, which hit in the night of November 1-2, 2023, nearly 10,000 kilometers away across two oceans.
Reunion's prefect, Patrice Latron, sent a letter to mayor Joé Bédier, from the diverse left, on December 18, 2025. He denounces "manifest anomalies that undermine the sincerity of the provided declarations." At least two litigious cases are cited, including the local stadium. This matter bolsters criticism from the mayor's opponents, who see it as a serious lapse in post-disaster management.
Despite the Soune-Seyne stadium's modesty compared to the historic Breton venue, the mix-up appears unlikely, highlighting administrative shortcomings in document preparation. The incident underscores challenges in handling claims after a natural disaster in a remote region.