Dozens of people have been killed and thousands displaced after a cyclone hit Madagascar with gusts of up to 167mph.<\/p>\n
The trail of destruction left by Tropical Cyclone<\/a><\/strong> Gezani has caused at least 31 deaths, the country’s disaster management office said.<\/p>\n Four others are missing, 36 are seriously injured, and 6,870 are displaced, with more than 250,000 people classified as disaster victims in total, officials said.<\/p>\n At its peak, the cyclone unleashed gusts of up to 167mph (270kph) – enough to tear metal sheeting from roofs and uproot large trees – with sustained winds of 115mph (185kph).<\/p>\n It comes just days after another cyclone, Tropical Cyclone Fytia, wrought havoc in Madagascar<\/a><\/strong>, killing 14 people and displacing 85,000 more.<\/p>\n Toamasina, the island nation’s second-largest city, was the hardest hit by Gezani, with 29 people killed as homes collapsed beneath the onslaught.<\/p>\n All told, 75% of the city’s infrastructure was destroyed, according to the office of President Michael Randrianirina<\/a><\/strong>. Power has been cut off since Tuesday.<\/p>\n “I have never experienced winds this violent,” said resident Harimanga Ranaivo. “The doors and windows are made of metal, but they are being violently shaken.”<\/p>\n Another resident, who gave his name only as Michel, described the scene as “devastation” when reached by phone.<\/p>\n He said: “Roofs have been blown away, walls have collapsed, power poles are down, trees have been uprooted. It looks like a catastrophic landscape.”<\/p>\n Red alerts were issued for several regions at risk of floods and landslides as the cyclone made landfall.<\/p>\n Gezani weakened to a tropical storm as it moved inland on Wednesday, passing some 60 miles north of the capital, Antananarivo.<\/p>\n But it’s expected to pass into the Mozambique Channel, which separates Madagascar from mainland Africa<\/a><\/strong>, where forecasters warn it might strengthen again.<\/p>\n Now the island faces the prospect of Gezani turning back and bringing fresh destruction to its southwest coast next week.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Weather alerts have also been issued across the channel in Mozambique<\/a><\/strong>, where floods last month hit more than 700,000 people.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/strong> Madagascar’s cyclone season lasts from roughly November to March, with more than a dozen tropical storms or cyclones recorded since 2020.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Damage](\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/26\/02\/768x432\/skynews-madagascar-cyclone_7162932.jpg?20260212083656\")
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\n Damage from Cyclone Gezani in Toamasina. Pic: Reuters
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\n Damage from Cyclone Gezani in Toamasina. Pic: Reuters
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\n Damage from Cyclone Gezani in Toamasina. Pic: Reuters
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\n Damage from Cyclone Gezani in Toamasina. Pic: Reuters
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