Madagascar cyclone death toll rises to 59 as devastation mounts
The death toll from Cyclone Gezani, which impacted Madagascar's east coast on Fri, Feb 10, 2023, has increased to 59. Additionally, 15 individuals remain missing, and over 16,000 have been displaced, according to the country's disaster agency.
The death toll from Cyclone Gezani, which impacted Madagascar's east coast on Fri, Feb 10, 2023, has increased to 59. Additionally, 15 individuals remain missing, and over 16,000 have been displaced, according to the country's disaster agency.
Most fatalities were reported in Toamasina, Madagascar's second-largest city with a population of 400,000. The cyclone made landfall with winds reaching 250 kilometers per hour. The destruction includes approximately 25,000 homes destroyed, 27,000 homes flooded, and over 200 classrooms wrecked. The city is currently operating with only five percent of its electricity and lacks running water.
This event follows Tropical Cyclone Fytia, which struck earlier in February, resulting in at least seven deaths and displacing 20,000 people. These consecutive cyclones highlight Madagascar's increasing vulnerability to extreme weather conditions.
The death toll from Cyclone Gezani, which impacted Madagascar's east coast on Fri, Feb 10, 2023, has increased to 59.
In response to the disaster, China and France have provided search-and-rescue support. The storm also had an impact on Mozambique, where at least four fatalities were reported.
Based on reporting by Africanews.
