A City in Ruins
At least 35 people have been killed and 75% of Madagascar’s second-largest city, Toamasina, has been destroyed after Cyclone Gezani made landfall on Tuesday evening. The Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et Catastrophes (BNGRC) reported the updated death toll, with six people still missing and 374 seriously injured.
Unprecedented Destruction
The cyclone struck the port city of nearly 400,000 inhabitants with wind gusts reaching 250 km/h. Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, who visited the area, described the scene as a “catastrophe,” stating that the city had been largely obliterated. Aerial footage shows vast areas with roofs torn off and palm trees along Independence Avenue flattened.
- Approximately 18,000 homes completely destroyed
- Nearly 50,000 additional homes damaged or flooded
- Over 250,000 people affected by the disaster
- Roads rendered impassable by debris and fallen trees
Historical Comparison
The Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) based on Réunion Island noted this was “one of the most intense direct impacts of the satellite era on the Tamatave area,” potentially rivaling Cyclone Geralda from February 1994, which killed at least 200 people and affected 500,000.
Humanitarian Crisis Unfolding
Rija Randrianarisoa, a regional official with Action Against Hunger, described “total chaos” with 90% of house roofs either partially or completely blown away. The majority of housing in Madagascar consists of precarious structures made from natural materials, making them particularly vulnerable to such extreme weather events.
Response and Recovery Efforts
Commercial flights to Toamasina Airport have been suspended, though humanitarian and military flights continue. Fifteen members of the armed forces’ civil protection unit have been deployed for rescue operations. Colonel Randrianirina has issued an international appeal for assistance, acknowledging that “the current situation exceeds Madagascar’s capacities alone.”
Continuing Threat
While the system has weakened to tropical storm status as it crosses the island from east to west, it continues to pose significant flood risks. Forecasters predict Gezani will regain cyclone strength upon reaching the Mozambique Channel, potentially threatening southern parts of the country already affected by severe flooding earlier this year.
