At least 31 people have died after a powerful cyclone struck Madagascar, says 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 reported 'total chaos', noting that houses collapsed in the impact zone where the bodies were found.
Neighbourhoods were plunged into darkness as power lines snapped, while trees were uprooted and roofs ripped off. 'What happened is a disaster, nearly 75% of the city of Toamasina was destroyed,' declared Colonel Michael Randrianirina, the country's military leader.
The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management indicated that many fatalities occurred when houses collapsed. As winds reached 250 km/h (155 mph), cyclone forecasters highlighted this storm as one of the most intense ever recorded around the city.
'It's total chaos; 90% of house roofs have been blown off, entirely or in part,' said Rija Randrianarisoa, head of disaster management at Action Against Hunger.
Emergency shelters were prepared before the cyclone's landfall, and post-storm responses included evacuating dozens of injured and hundreds of residents from the affected areas, which hold about 400,000 people.
Cyclone Gezani marks the second severe cyclone to hit Madagascar in a short span, following tropical cyclone Fytia that had recently claimed 14 lives and displaced over 31,000 individuals. As the storm weakened and moved towards the central highlands, officials were still assessing the extent of damage and organizing recovery efforts.
Cyclone Gezani made landfall on Tuesday, hitting the island's main port, Toamasina. Madagascar's disaster management office reported 'total chaos', noting that houses collapsed in the impact zone where the bodies were found.
Neighbourhoods were plunged into darkness as power lines snapped, while trees were uprooted and roofs ripped off. 'What happened is a disaster, nearly 75% of the city of Toamasina was destroyed,' declared Colonel Michael Randrianirina, the country's military leader.
The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management indicated that many fatalities occurred when houses collapsed. As winds reached 250 km/h (155 mph), cyclone forecasters highlighted this storm as one of the most intense ever recorded around the city.
'It's total chaos; 90% of house roofs have been blown off, entirely or in part,' said Rija Randrianarisoa, head of disaster management at Action Against Hunger.
Emergency shelters were prepared before the cyclone's landfall, and post-storm responses included evacuating dozens of injured and hundreds of residents from the affected areas, which hold about 400,000 people.
Cyclone Gezani marks the second severe cyclone to hit Madagascar in a short span, following tropical cyclone Fytia that had recently claimed 14 lives and displaced over 31,000 individuals. As the storm weakened and moved towards the central highlands, officials were still assessing the extent of damage and organizing recovery efforts.
