Cyclone Gezani tore through Madagascar in a single day of devastation, leaving dozens dead, hundreds injured and tens of thousands of homes ruined, officials confirmed Thursday.
Authorities revealed that at least 36 people lost their lives while more than 370 others sustained injuries as the storm swept across the island nation. Nearly 18,000 houses were completely destroyed within 24 hours, deepening the humanitarian strain on the country.
In response to the destruction, Madagascar’s president declared a national disaster and appealed to the international community for urgent support for the impoverished Indian Ocean nation.
READ ALSO: Cyclone Gezani wreaks havoc in Madagascar, 31 dead and homes reduced to rubble
Gezani struck the country late Tuesday, slamming into the eastern port city of Toamasina before moving inland and leaving extensive damage along its path. By Thursday, the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management said the death toll had climbed to at least 36, with six individuals still unaccounted for. The agency added that 374 people were injured, while more than 250,000 residents were directly affected by the storm.
Officials indicated that Toamasina, Madagascar’s main port and a key commercial center, suffered the greatest losses, accounting for 32 of the recorded deaths. President Michael Randrianirina disclosed that roughly 75% of the city had been either damaged or destroyed.
Structural vulnerability worsened the tragedy, as a significant portion of Madagascar’s estimated 31 million residents live in homes unable to withstand severe weather. Authorities attributed many fatalities to collapsing buildings.
Disaster management officials said 17,980 houses were flattened, while over 37,000 additional structures sustained varying levels of damage after the cyclone unleashed winds exceeding 195 kilometres per hour (121 miles per hour).
Drone footage released by the disaster agency captured the scale of devastation across Toamasina, a city with a population exceeding 300,000. The video showed widespread structural destruction, with roofs torn away and buildings severely damaged. Several properties were reduced to rubble, while uprooted trees and stripped vegetation littered roads throughout the city.
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As floodwaters lingered, residents waded through knee-deep water while attempting to salvage belongings and begin rebuilding their lives.
“We can clearly see what Toamasina needs right now: above all, food, basic necessities, and building materials to quickly rebuild everything that has been destroyed in Toamasina and its surroundings,” Randrianirina said after he visited the city that took the brunt of the cyclone. He called on all of Madagascar’s people to help with the recovery effort.
Located off Africa’s eastern coastline, Madagascar faces frequent exposure to powerful weather systems forming over the Indian Ocean. Since 2020, the island has endured more than a dozen cyclones and severe tropical storms.
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Just last month, another cyclone battered the island’s northwest region, leaving at least 14 people dead, the AP reported.
