ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Tropical Cyclone Gezani has unleashed catastrophic damage across Madagascar, claiming at least nine lives and injuring 19 others after making landfall in the nation’s primary port city of Toamasina. The powerful storm struck with ferocious winds exceeding 195 kph (121 mph), triggering red alerts across multiple regions for potential flooding and landslides.
The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management confirmed the casualties resulted primarily from structural collapses as the cyclone battered the eastern coastline late Tuesday. Toamasina, a critical economic hub with approximately 300,000 residents, suffered the most severe impact, with eyewitnesses describing widespread devastation including destroyed buildings, uprooted trees, and severed power infrastructure.
Madagascar President Michael Randrianirina, who assumed power following an October military coup, visited the disaster zone to assess damage and coordinate response efforts. Official social media footage revealed extensive flooding, commercial and residential structures with shattered windows and missing roofs, and streets littered with debris.
This meteorological disaster compounds existing vulnerabilities for the Indian Ocean nation, which endured another deadly cyclone less than two weeks prior. Tropical Cyclone Fytia killed 14 people and displaced over 85,000 residents on January 31st, highlighting the region’s recurrent weather crises.
Meteorological services reported Gezani weakened to tropical storm status while moving inland Wednesday, though red alerts remained active for the capital region Antananarivo due to flooding risks. The storm system is projected to enter the Mozambique Channel on Thursday, where it could potentially regain cyclone strength and threaten Madagascar’s southwestern coast next week.
With annual cyclone seasons from November through March consistently battering one of the world’s poorest nations, Madagascar faces perpetual recovery challenges. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction estimates weather disasters cause approximately $85 million in annual infrastructure damage, severely hampering national development efforts.