At least 31 people have died after Cyclone Gezani struck Madagascar’s second-largest city, Toamasina, leaving widespread devastation in its wake. The storm made landfall on Tuesday with winds reaching 250 kilometres per hour.
The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management confirmed the fatalities, many caused by collapsing houses. Four people remain missing, at least 36 are seriously injured, and over 250,000 residents have been affected.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, Madagascar’s leader, described the destruction as catastrophic, saying nearly 75 percent of Toamasina was damaged. He appealed for international assistance, warning that the situation exceeds the country’s capacity to respond.
Drone footage released by authorities revealed severe flooding, streets littered with uprooted trees, and buildings stripped of roofs. The surrounding Atsinanana region also suffered heavily, with reports of total chaos and 90 percent of roofs damaged, according to Rija Randrianarisoa of Action Against Hunger.
Residents described the cyclone’s winds as “monstrous,” collapsing even solid walls. Cyclone forecasters on Reunion Island confirmed Toamasina was struck by the storm’s most intense section, marking one of the strongest landfalls recorded in the region in the satellite era.
Commercial flights to Toamasina were suspended, except for humanitarian and military operations. Fifteen civil protection army personnel have been deployed to assist with rescue efforts.
Although weakened after landfall, Cyclone Gezani continues to sweep across the island, posing further flood risks. Forecasts indicate it could regain strength over the Mozambique Channel and impact southern Mozambique later this week.
Cyclone Gezani adds to Madagascar’s history of deadly storms, including Cyclone Geralda in 1994, Gretelle in 1997, and Gafilo, which killed 241 people. Over 70 percent of homes in Madagascar are constructed from fragile materials such as clay and branches, heightening vulnerability. The cyclone season in the southwest Indian Ocean typically runs from November to April.
