The Death Toll From the Madagascar Cyclone has Risen to 59 as The Devastation Continues

The death toll from Cyclone Gezani, which struck Madagascar’s east coast on February 10, has increased to 59, with 15 people still missing and more than 16,000 displaced, the country’s disaster service said Monday. The majority of casualties happened in Toamasina, Madagascar’s second-largest metropolis of 400,000 people, where the cyclone made landfall with winds of up to 250 km per hour.

The damage is enormous, with about 25,000 dwellings demolished, 27,000 flooded, and more than 200 classrooms destroyed. The city presently uses only 5% of its energy and has no running water. Back-to-back storms highlight climate vulnerability

This is the second hurricane to hit the island nation in weeks, following Tropical hurricane Fytia, which killed at least seven people and displaced 20,000 in early February. The back-to-back disasters highlight Madagascar’s increasing vulnerability to extreme weather caused by climate change. International response is underway.

China and France have mobilised search and rescue teams, while Pope Leo XIV has offered prayers for the affected country. The hurricane generally avoided Mozambique, but at least four people perished there.

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