Madagascar: At least 38 people have been killed and more than 12,000 displaced after Cyclone Gezani struck eastern Madagascar, causing widespread destruction in the coastal hub of Toamasina earlier this week.
Authorities warned that the storm could intensify again as it moves toward Mozambique. Madagascar’s disaster management agency reported hundreds of injuries and several people still missing as rescue teams continued search operations in hard-hit neighbourhoods.
Entire communities were left in ruins after winds of up to 250 km/h tore off roofs, flattened homes and uprooted trees. The government declared a national disaster, appealing for international assistance as relief agencies struggled to reach affected areas. Key transport routes were cut off, including the main road linking Toamasina to the capital, Antananarivo, slowing the delivery of aid and emergency supplies.
Officials said tens of thousands of houses were either destroyed or severely damaged, leaving families sheltering in temporary camps, schools and public buildings. Many fatalities were linked to collapsing structures unable to withstand the powerful winds.
France has begun sending humanitarian assistance and rescue teams from nearby Réunion, while international agencies warned of a growing humanitarian crisis as food, clean water and medical supplies run short.
Forecasters said Gezani weakened after crossing Madagascar but could regain strength over warm waters in the Mozambique Channel. Mozambican authorities issued warnings for destructive winds, heavy rainfall and dangerous storm surges along the southern coast, urging residents in vulnerable zones to evacuate.
The disaster underscores the growing threat posed by powerful tropical storms in the southwest Indian Ocean, a region where both Madagascar and Mozambique face recurring climate-related emergencies.
Emergency teams remain on high alert as the storm’s path continues to be closely monitored.
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