Cyclone Gezani batters Toamasina coast - at least nine dead

A powerful tropical cyclone slammed into Madagascar’s eastern coast near the port city of Toamasina, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens as roofs, walls and power infrastructure were torn apart. The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management said 19 people were injured and that nearly 1,500 residents had been evacuated as a precaution in districts around Toamasina, a city of roughly 300,000.

Scenes from the city and surrounding communes showed flooded streets, uprooted trees and metal roofs ripped from houses. “It’s devastation. Roofs have been blown away, walls have collapsed, power poles are down, trees have been uprooted. It looks like a catastrophic landscape,” said Michel, a resident of Toamasina. Power was cut across large parts of the city from Tuesday, and emergency shelters that had been prepared before the storm were pressed into use.

Official meteorological bulletins described Gezani as a major system as it approached the coast. A ReliefWeb technical bulletin at 06:00 UTC on February 10 placed the storm’s centre about 175 kilometres east of Toamasina with maximum sustained winds of 177 km/h, and forecast landfall mid‑afternoon with possible sustained winds up to 232 km/h. On-the-ground assessments described peak sustained winds of roughly 185 km/h with gusts approaching 270 km/h, while other agencies reported winds exceeding 195 km/h. After landfall the national meteorological service said Gezani had weakened to a moderate tropical storm as it moved westward inland, roughly 100 km north of the capital Antananarivo, and forecast the system to cross the central highlands from east to west before moving out to sea into the Mozambique Channel this evening or tonight.

Residents who rode out the storm described violent, unprecedented winds. “I have never experienced winds this violent. The doors and windows are made of metal, but they are being violently shaken,” said Harimanga Ranaivo, describing the storm’s force. Videos posted on the president’s office Facebook page showed neighbourhoods under water and debris-strewn streets; President Michael Randrianirina visited Toamasina to survey damage and speak with residents.

Gezani comes only days after Tropical Cyclone Fytia swept parts of Madagascar. Official counts of Fytia’s impact vary: the national bureau for risk and disaster management reported, as of February 10, some 15 fatalities, seven injured, 26,959 displaced and 85,642 people affected, while other international counts cited lower or higher displacement figures depending on definitions and timing. The differing totals reflect the challenge of tracking displaced and affected people across hard-hit communities and after successive storms.

Forecasters warned of continued heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge across eastern, central and northern Madagascar in the 72 hours following initial landfall, raising risks of flooding and landslides as Gezani crosses the island. Agencies also cautioned that the storm could reintensify after entering the Mozambique Channel and possibly return toward the southwest coast next week.

Madagascar is highly vulnerable to cyclones during the November to March season, with repeated storms inflicting chronic damage on homes, roads and livelihoods. Humanitarian and government teams are mobilising to assess needs and deliver immediate assistance, but access to some districts remains constrained by downed trees, flooded roads and power outages.