By Micah Jonah
February 17, 2026
At least 59 people have been confirmed dead after Cyclone Gezani tore through Madagascar, leaving widespread destruction and displacing thousands across the Indian Ocean island nation.
Madagascar’s National Bureau for Risk and Disaster Management reported that 16,428 people have been displaced, while 15 others remain missing. A total of 804 people were injured, and more than 423,000 residents were classified as affected by the disaster.
Cyclone Gezani struck the country just 10 days after Tropical Cyclone Fytia killed 14 people and displaced more than 31,000, compounding the humanitarian crisis in the region.
At its peak, Gezani packed sustained winds of about 185 kilometres per hour, with gusts reaching nearly 270 km/h strong enough to rip off rooftops and uproot large trees. Entire communities were left counting losses as homes, infrastructure and farmlands were severely damaged.
After sweeping across Madagascar, the cyclone moved westward into the Mozambique Channel, generating heavy winds and waves of up to 10 metres along parts of southern Mozambique. Weather authorities later indicated that the storm curved back eastward and was forecast to make a second landfall in southwestern Madagascar.
The Ampanihy district has been placed on red alert, with authorities warning residents to brace for further strong winds, though heavy rainfall was not immediately expected.
Madagascar is frequently hit by powerful cyclones during the Indian Ocean storm season, but experts warn that climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of such extreme weather events.
Emergency response teams continue rescue and relief operations as the government assesses the full scale of the damage.
