By Micah Jonah
February 11, 2026
Cyclone Gezani has struck Madagascar with hurricane force winds and torrential rains, leaving reports of widespread destruction across parts of the island nation.
Madagascar’s national weather service, Meteo Madagascar, warned early on Wednesday that heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides were highly likely as the cyclone moved from the eastern coast towards the central highlands.
Red alerts indicating imminent danger were issued for several regions including Analanjirofo, Atsinanana, Alaotra Mangoro, Analamanga and Betsiboka.
Residents in affected areas reported extensive damage to homes and infrastructure. In Toamasina, a major port city on the east coast, properties were damaged, electricity supply was disrupted and flooding submerged parts of residential neighbourhoods.
Local authorities confirmed that the port of Toamasina was directly impacted by the most intense part of the storm during landfall on Tuesday night.
Although Gezani has weakened into a tropical storm as it moves inland, meteorological authorities say it could regain strength over the Mozambique Channel as it heads towards the African mainland.
The cyclone struck less than two weeks after Tropical Cyclone Fytia hit northwestern Madagascar on January 31, killing at least 12 people, displacing more than 31,000 residents. The earlier storm damaged thousands of homes, schools and health facilities, while also destroying rice fields, contaminating water sources.
Officials say emergency response efforts are ongoing, with security agencies and disaster management teams mobilised to assist affected communities.
Climate experts have repeatedly warned that warming ocean temperatures linked to climate change are increasing the intensity of tropical storms, placing island nations such as Madagascar at heightened risk.
Authorities continue to monitor the storm’s movement as communities brace for further rainfall and possible flooding in the coming hours.
