标签： Africa

A devastating cyclone has unleashed catastrophic damage across eastern Madagascar, claiming at least 20 lives and plunging the port city of Toamasina into what authorities describe as ‘total chaos.’ Cyclone Gezani made landfall on Tuesday, striking with ferocious winds reaching 250 km/h (155 mph) – one of the most intense storms recorded in the satellite era for the region.

According to the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management, the majority of fatalities occurred when residential structures collapsed under the cyclone’s brutal force. The storm’s impact zone witnessed widespread destruction: approximately 90% of houses suffered complete or partial roof loss, power lines snapped creating widespread blackouts, and trees were violently uprooted across neighborhoods.

The disaster management office has executed emergency evacuations, relocating dozens of injured individuals and hundreds of residents from districts surrounding Toamasina, a urban center housing approximately 400,000 people. Survivors recounted terrifying experiences as the cyclone struck. ‘I have never experienced winds this violent… The doors and windows are made of metal, but they are being violently shaken,’ Harimanga Ranaivo told Reuters.

This catastrophic event marks the second major cyclone to batter Madagascar within just ten days. Tropical cyclone Fytia recently claimed 14 lives and displaced over 31,000 people according to UN humanitarian reports, compounding the nation’s emergency response challenges.

In preparation for Gezani’s arrival, Malagasy authorities had implemented preventive measures including school closures and emergency shelter preparations. By Wednesday morning, the meteorological service reported the system had weakened to a moderate tropical storm, moving westward inland approximately 100km north of the capital Antananarivo. Forecasters project the storm will cross the central highlands before exiting into the Mozambique Channel.

The nation’s new leader, Colonel Michael Randrianirina – who assumed power in October – was personally assessing the damage in Toamasina on Wednesday morning. The Indian Ocean cyclone season typically spans November through April, generating approximately a dozen annual storms in the region according to meteorological patterns.

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.

In the dim confines of a refugee camp in Ivory Coast, 57-year-old Yameogo Aminata grapples with the traumatic memory of her four sons being executed by jihadist fighters in Burkina Faso. The attack occurred in 2022 when armed insurgents—who have terrorized central Burkina Faso for nearly fifteen years—overran her village, slaughtering residents and seizing property.

“They slit the throats of four of my children,” Aminata recounted to the BBC, her voice trembling with emotion. “When I arrived, they were killing my fourth son.” Despite attempting to fight back with a knife, she was overpowered, severely beaten, and left with critical injuries. Her daughter remains missing since the assault.

Aminata is among thousands who have fled to the Nioronigué camp, established in 2023 near the Burkinabé border through a collaboration between the United Nations and Ivorian authorities. Here, she preserves the bloodied clothing from the attack as a harrowing reminder of her loss.

The Sahel region, described by the UN as the “epicentre” of global jihadist violence, has seen over 10,000 fatalities and the displacement of more than three million people. Countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have been particularly affected, leading to military coups and a strategic pivot from Western alliances to Russian military support under the Africa Corps. Yet, insurgency persists, notably from al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM.

Hassane Tall, a 60-year-old farmer, escaped northern Burkina Faso with his three wives and 19 children after repeated attacks. “We thought we would die,” he said. Now in Nioronigué, he mourns the loss of his ancestral land but sees no safe future at home.

The camp, designed for 6,000 people, now shelters approximately 13,000 refugees—far exceeding its capacity. More than 80,000 Burkinabés currently reside in Ivorian camps, with many others integrated into local communities. This influx strains resources, despite the Ivorian government’s commitment to welcome refugees as “brothers” sharing cultural and historical ties.

Blerta Cela of the UN Development Programme warned that host communities and infrastructure are under severe pressure. Meanwhile, refugees like a 27-year-old Malian finance graduate describe fleeing pervasive fear and violence after family members were targeted.

For Aminata, the struggle to rebuild her life is overshadowed by enduring trauma. “I still cannot erase what happened to me,” she confessed. “We just pray to God that peace comes back to Burkina Faso.”