At least 20 people have died after a powerful cyclone struck Madagascar, reports 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 stated that there was 'total chaos' in the impact zone, where the casualties were found. Power lines snapped, plunging neighborhoods into darkness, while trees were uprooted and roofs ripped off.
According to the CMRS cyclone forecaster on France's Reunion island, the cyclone's landfall is likely to have been one of the most intense recorded around the city in the satellite era.
The cyclonic winds reached 250 km/h (155 mph), resulting in significant destruction, with 90% of house roofs damaged. The head of disaster management at Action Against Hunger, Rija Randrianarisoa, stated, 'It's total chaos.'
In response, Madagascar's disaster management office has evacuated dozens of injured individuals and hundreds of residents from districts around Toamasina, which has a population of 400,000. Eyewitnesses described the cyclone's violent winds, with one resident noting they had never experienced such force.
Cyclone Gezani is the second cyclone to hit Madagascar this year, following tropical cyclone Fytia, which killed 14 and displaced over 31,000 people just a week prior. In anticipation of the cyclone, officials implemented school closures and prepared emergency shelters.
As of Wednesday morning, Madagascar's meteorological service reported that Gezani had weakened to a moderate tropical storm, moving westward about 100km north of the capital, Antananarivo. The cyclone is expected to continue shifting across the region before moving out to sea.
Madagascar's disaster management office stated that there was 'total chaos' in the impact zone, where the casualties were found. Power lines snapped, plunging neighborhoods into darkness, while trees were uprooted and roofs ripped off.
According to the CMRS cyclone forecaster on France's Reunion island, the cyclone's landfall is likely to have been one of the most intense recorded around the city in the satellite era.
The cyclonic winds reached 250 km/h (155 mph), resulting in significant destruction, with 90% of house roofs damaged. The head of disaster management at Action Against Hunger, Rija Randrianarisoa, stated, 'It's total chaos.'
In response, Madagascar's disaster management office has evacuated dozens of injured individuals and hundreds of residents from districts around Toamasina, which has a population of 400,000. Eyewitnesses described the cyclone's violent winds, with one resident noting they had never experienced such force.
Cyclone Gezani is the second cyclone to hit Madagascar this year, following tropical cyclone Fytia, which killed 14 and displaced over 31,000 people just a week prior. In anticipation of the cyclone, officials implemented school closures and prepared emergency shelters.
As of Wednesday morning, Madagascar's meteorological service reported that Gezani had weakened to a moderate tropical storm, moving westward about 100km north of the capital, Antananarivo. The cyclone is expected to continue shifting across the region before moving out to sea.
