Madagascar hit by Cyclone Gezani, causing deaths and displacements

The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) confirmed on Thursday that Cyclone Gezani, which made landfall late Tuesday, has resulted in at least 38 deaths, six people still missing, and at least 374 injuries.

The storm slammed directly into Toamasina, also known as Tamatave – Madagascar's second-largest city and home to nearly 400,000 people, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Its violent gusts and torrential rains ravaged “up to 75 percent” of the city and its surroundings, according to Madagascar’s new leader, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who took power four months ago following a military takeover.

In a statement Thursday, he called for “international solidarity” to support urgent relief operations.

The CMRS cyclone forecaster on France's Indian Ocean island of Réunion said Toamasina had been “directly hit by the most intense part” of the cyclone. It described the landfall as likely one of the most intense recorded in the region – rivalling Cyclone Geralda, which left at least 200 people dead back in 1994.

Cyclone Gezani weakened after reached land, but continued crossing Madagascar from east to west as a tropical storm until Wednesday night.

Forecasters say it is expected to regain strength over the Mozambique Channel, potentially returning to “intense tropical cyclone” status, classified as stage four out of five. From Friday evening, it could strike southern Mozambique, a country already grappling with severe flooding since the beginning of the year.

Cyclone season in the south-west Indian Ocean typically runs from November to April and produces around a dozen storms each year.

News.Az 

By Ulviyya Salmanli