At least 36 people have been killed and nearly 18000 homes destroyed after Cyclone Gizani tore across Madagascar, triggering a national disaster declaration and an urgent appeal for international assistance.
Authorities said on Thursday that the powerful tropical cyclone left more than 370 people injured and affected over 250000 residents across the Indian Ocean island nation. Six people remain missing as search and rescue efforts continue.
The storm made landfall late on Tuesday, unleashing winds exceeding 195 kilometers per hour and causing widespread devastation, particularly in the eastern coastal city of Toamasina, the country’s main port and economic hub. Officials reported that 32 of the confirmed deaths occurred in the Toamasina region alone.
President Michael Randrianirina declared a state of national disaster and called on global leaders to provide emergency support. He said that approximately 75 percent of Toamasina was either damaged or destroyed.
According to the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management, 17980 homes were completely destroyed, while more than 37000 additional properties sustained significant damage. Many of the fatalities were attributed to building collapses, reflecting the vulnerability of housing structures across the country.
Madagascar, home to around 31 million people, is particularly exposed to severe weather systems sweeping in from the Indian Ocean. Since 2020, the island has been hit by more than a dozen cyclones or major tropical storms, underscoring the growing climate and disaster resilience challenges facing the region.
Just last month, another cyclone struck the northwestern part of the island, killing at least 14 people. The latest disaster intensifies pressure on Madagascar’s already fragile infrastructure and humanitarian systems, as thousands are now in urgent need of shelter, medical aid and basic supplies.
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