Cyclone Gezani Kills 38 in Madagascar, Mozambique on Alert

At least 38 people have died after Cyclone Gezani hit Madagascar’s second-largest city Toamasina, officials confirmed on Thursday. The cyclone made landfall on Tuesday, bringing destructive winds of up to 250 km/h (155 mph).

According to Madagascar’s National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNRGC), the cyclone has also left six people missing and at least 374 injured. The disaster agency said more than 12,000 people have been displaced due to the storm.

Madagascar’s new leader, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, appealed for international support, stating that the cyclone had damaged nearly 75% of Toamasina and surrounding areas.

Massive Damage in Toamasina and Nearby Regions

Authorities reported that more than 18,000 homes were destroyed, while over 50,000 houses were damaged or flooded. The cyclone also severely affected the Atsinanana region, where damage assessments are still ongoing.

The main road connecting Toamasina to the capital Antananarivo has been cut off in several places, blocking humanitarian aid convoys. Officials also said that telecommunications remain unstable in the affected areas.

Images from the city showed streets filled with uprooted trees and destroyed rooftops. Many residents were seen clearing debris and trying to repair damaged homes.

Aid and Warnings

France announced it is sending food assistance and rescue teams from Reunion Island, around 1,000 km away.

Thousands have been forced to leave their homes, with widespread destruction and disruption reported across the city and surrounding areas.

One of the Strongest Storms in Decades

Cyclone forecasters said Toamasina was hit by the most intense part of the storm. Gezani could be one of the strongest cyclones recorded in the region during the satellite era, comparable to Cyclone Geralda (1994).

Gezani weakened after landfall but continued across Madagascar as a tropical storm until late Wednesday.

Mozambique Braces for Cyclone Impact

Cyclone Gezani is expected to regain strength as it moves into the Mozambique Channel and may strike southern Mozambique from Friday evening.

Authorities warned the storm could bring violent winds and rough seas with waves up to 10 metres, urging residents in the affected areas to move to safer locations.

Mozambique has already suffered major flooding this season, recording nearly 140 deaths since October 1.

Cyclone season in the southwest Indian Ocean usually runs from November to April, with around a dozen storms forming each year.