Cyclone Gezani Devastates Madagascar
Cyclone Gezani has struck Madagascar with extraordinary force, carving a destructive path across the island nation and triggering widespread damage, emergency alerts, and mounting humanitarian concerns.
The powerful storm made landfall late Tuesday along Madagascar’s eastern coastline, bringing hurricane-force winds and relentless rainfall. The port city of Toamasina, the country’s largest commercial hub, bore the brunt of the cyclone’s impact as it roared ashore from the Indian Ocean.
Early accounts from residents paint a grim picture of devastation. Buildings were torn apart, roofs ripped away, and floodwaters surged through homes and streets. Communication networks were disrupted as electricity lines collapsed under the strain of violent gusts.
Eye Witness Account
“It’s monstrous,” one Toamasina resident said during a brief phone call after networks were partially restored. “Everything is devastated, roofs have been blown off, floors are flooded, the walls of solid houses have collapsed.”
Expert Reports
Meteorological officials reported wind speeds reaching up to 250 kilometres per hour (155 mph) at landfall. According to the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (CMRS) in Réunion, the eye of the cyclone Gezani passed directly over Toamasina; a rare event in the satellite monitoring era. Forecasters compared Gezani’s intensity to Cyclone Geralda, which devastated Madagascar in February 1994.
Red alerts: the highest level of warning, were issued across several regions, including Analanjirofo, Atsinanana, Alaotra Mangoro, Analamanga and Betsiboka. Authorities warned of life-threatening flash floods, river overflows, and landslides as the storm pushed inland from east to west.
Although Cyclone Gezani weakened to tropical storm strength as it crossed Madagascar’s rugged interior, it continued to generate severe weather conditions. Heavy rainfall and strong winds affected parts of the central highlands, including areas around the capital, Antananarivo.
Emergency officials confirmed that at least nine people have died, with dozens more injured. Falling trees, flying debris and collapsing structures contributed to the casualties. Thousands of residents have been displaced or left without reliable access to electricity and clean water as damage assessments continue.
Forecasters caution that the threat is not yet over. As Cyclone Gezani moves westward into the Mozambique Channel, weather conditions may allow the system to regain strength. Meteorologists are closely monitoring the possibility of re-intensification before the storm approaches the African mainland.
Presidential Response and National Relief Efforts
President Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who came to power following a military coup in October, announced plans to travel to Toamasina to evaluate the destruction firsthand once conditions permit. Government agencies and humanitarian partners have begun mobilising relief supplies and coordinating emergency response operations.
Meanwhile, authorities are urging residents in flood-prone and low-lying areas to seek shelter and follow official guidance. The combination of saturated ground, swollen rivers and unstable slopes raises the risk of further flooding and landslides even after winds subside.
The latest disaster comes less than two weeks after Tropical Cyclone Fytia struck northwestern Madagascar. That earlier storm killed at least 12 people and displaced approximately 31,000 others, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Tens of thousands of homes, along with schools and health facilities, were damaged during Fytia’s passage.
With communities still recovering from that crisis, Cyclone Gezani’s arrival has compounded an already fragile situation. Aid agencies warn that overlapping disasters are straining local response capacity and increasing vulnerability among affected populations.
Madagascar is among the countries most exposed to tropical cyclones in the southwest Indian Ocean basin. Warmer sea surface temperatures and rising ocean levels linked to climate change are believed to be contributing to stronger storms and heavier rainfall events. For a nation where many communities rely on fragile infrastructure and subsistence agriculture, repeated extreme weather disasters pose significant long-term challenges.
As emergency crews continue clearing debris and restoring essential services, the full scale of Cyclone Gezani’s destruction is still emerging. What is already clear, however, is that the storm has delivered one of the most severe blows Madagascar has faced in decades, renewing urgent calls for disaster preparedness, climate resilience and sustained international support.
