Death toll from Cyclone Jezani in Madagascar rises to 59, with widespread destruction
Authorities in Madagascar have announced a rising death toll from Cyclone Gizane, which recently struck the country. At least 59 people have died, while 15 others remain missing. These tragic figures come six days after the cyclone devastated Toamasina and other towns, according to a new official count released on Monday, highlighting the scale of the natural disaster that has struck the large Indian Ocean island nation.
Widespread destruction in Toamasina and its infrastructure
The cyclone left a trail of devastation, particularly in the northeastern city of Toamasina, where record-breaking winds of 250 kilometers per hour lashed the region. The storm nearly destroyed infrastructure in the affected areas. Field reports indicate that over 25,000 homes were completely destroyed, while another 27,000 were inundated by floodwaters, leaving thousands of families homeless.
In terms of human and material losses, more than 800 people sustained injuries of varying severity, and approximately 16,000 citizens were forcibly displaced, fleeing their homes in search of safer areas. The city of Toamasina, with a population of nearly 400,000, faces a critical humanitarian situation. The World Food Programme confirmed that up to 95% of the electricity grid has been damaged, and there is a complete lack of potable water, raising the specter of a health catastrophe if the situation is not addressed.
Madagascar and cyclone seasons: a geographical and climatic context
Madagascar, by virtue of its geographical location in the heart of the Indian Ocean, is one of the countries most vulnerable to violent tropical cyclones. Cyclone Jizani is the latest in a series of natural disasters that strike the country annually, exacerbating its economic and developmental challenges. The northwest of the country was hit by another tropical cyclone at the beginning of February, leaving behind deaths and displacements, highlighting the fragility of its infrastructure in the face of extreme climate change, which is increasing the frequency and intensity of these storms.
International response and urgent aid
As part of international efforts to aid those affected by the disaster, the People's Republic of China provided Madagascar with 100 million yuan (approximately €12 million) in financial assistance to contribute to reconstruction and relief efforts. For its part, France announced the establishment of an air and sea bridge to send food supplies, medical teams, and firefighters from the neighboring French island of Réunion, which is about 1,000 kilometers from the Malagasy coast.
Images taken by international news agencies show the streets of Toamasina's commercial center flooded with muddy water, while residents line up in long queues inside schools that have been turned into shelters and humanitarian aid distribution centers, in a scene that reflects the extent of the suffering experienced by the residents.
The impact extends to Mozambique
Cyclone Jezani's impact didn't stop at Madagascar; it continued its path through the Mozambique Channel to the African mainland, where it struck the Mozambican coast over the weekend. The cyclone killed at least four people and caused significant damage in the southern coastal city of Inhambane, highlighting the need for regional coordination to address the consequences of such transboundary storms.
