Devastation in Madagascar: At Least 31 Dead from Cyclone Gezani

Fri Feb 13 2026 01:00:20 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Cyclone Gezani wreaks havoc in Toamasina, Madagascar, causing widespread destruction and leading to significant loss of life. With winds reaching 250 km/h, many areas face total chaos and power outages.

A powerful cyclone named Gezani hit Madagascar, particularly impacting the port city of Toamasina, resulting in at least 31 fatalities. Reports detail widespread destruction, with nearly 75% of the city damaged, uprooted trees, and power outages. Officials have evacuated hundreds, stating that the situation exceeds the country's current capabilities for disaster response.

At least 31 people have died after a powerful cyclone struck Madagascar, says the disaster authority in the Indian Ocean island.

Cyclone Gezani made landfall on Tuesday, hitting the island's main port, Toamasina. Madagascar's disaster management office reported total chaos as houses collapsed in the impact zone, where the bodies were found.

Neighbourhoods were plunged into darkness as power lines snapped, while trees were uprooted and roofs ripped off. What happened is a disaster; nearly 75% of the city of Toamasina was destroyed, the military leader Colonel Michael Randrianirina stated.

Many were killed when houses collapsed due to the storm's intensity, with winds reaching up to 250 km/h (155 mph). The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management cited catastrophic scenes, saying 90% of house roofs had been blown partially or entirely off.

The cyclone's aftermath has left hundreds of residents from the vicinity of Toamasina homeless, and authorities are struggling to provide adequate help.

Gezani is the second cyclone to hit Madagascar this year, coming just days after Tropical Cyclone Fytia, which killed 14 and displaced over 31,000 people.

As the cyclone weakened to a moderate tropical storm, it moved inland, leaving devastation throughout its path, emphasizing the extreme vulnerability Madagascar faces during cyclone season.