Africa-Press. Madagascar’s disaster management agency, on the Indian Ocean island, announced that at least 31 people have died after a powerful cyclone struck the country.
Cyclone Geizany made landfall and hit the port of Toamasina, the island’s main port. Madagascar’s disaster management office reported “widespread chaos,” with houses collapsing in the impact zone and bodies being found. Power was cut in residential neighborhoods, trees were uprooted, and rooftops were damaged.
Colonel Michael Randrianierina, the country’s military leader who took power in October, said: “What happened is a disaster—nearly 75% of the city of Toamasina has been destroyed.” He added: “The current situation is beyond Madagascar’s capacity alone.”
According to an Agence France-Presse report, a weather forecaster at the meteorological research center on France’s Réunion Island said the cyclone’s landfall was likely among the strongest recorded around the city in the satellite era.
Madagascar’s National Office for Risk and Disaster Management said several people were killed when homes collapsed. Cyclone Geizany hit Toamasina, the country’s second-largest city, with winds reaching 250 km/h (155 mph).
Rija Randrianarisoa, head of disaster management at Action Against Hunger, said: “It is widespread chaos—winds tore off 90% of roofs, fully or partially.”
Madagascar’s disaster services evacuated dozens of injured people and hundreds of residents from an area around Toamasina, which has a population of about 400,000.
Residents of Toamasina and nearby areas described chaotic scenes as the cyclone made landfall. “I’ve never seen winds this strong before… the doors and windows are made of metal, but they’re shaking violently,” Harimanga Ranaivo told Reuters.
Geizany is the second cyclone to hit Madagascar this year. It comes ten days after Tropical Storm Fitia, which killed 14 people and displaced more than 31,000, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Ahead of the cyclone’s arrival, authorities closed schools and rushed to prepare emergency shelters.
On Wednesday morning, Madagascar’s meteorological service said Tropical Storm Geizany had weakened into a moderate tropical storm and was moving westward inland, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the capital, Antananarivo.
The service added: “Geizany will cross the Central Highlands from east to west today, before heading back out to sea toward the Mozambique Channel this evening or overnight.”
Madagascar’s cyclone season in the Indian Ocean typically runs from November to April and averages around a dozen storms each year.
