At least 31 people have died after Tropical Cyclone Gezani struck Madagascar late Tuesday, February 10, 2026, battering the Indian Ocean island with winds exceeding 195 kph (121 mph) and torrential rain, authorities announced on Wednesday.
Authorities said the majority of fatalities occurred in the eastern port city of Toamasina, where collapsing buildings caused many of the deaths. At least 36 people were seriously injured, four remain missing and more than 6,000 residents have been displaced, according to the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management.
Madagascar’s weather service issued red alerts for several regions, warning of floods and landslides as the storm tore across the country of 31 million people. In Toamasina, home to around 300,000 residents, infrastructure was severely damaged, with the president’s office estimating that about 75% of the city’s infrastructure was either damaged or destroyed. Electricity has been cut off since Tuesday.
President Michael Randrianirina, who assumed power following a military coup in October, visited the affected areas to assess the damage. Residents described widespread devastation, including uprooted trees, destroyed homes and shattered shopfronts.
Gezani weakened into a tropical storm as it moved westward inland on Wednesday, February 11, passing north of the capital, Antananarivo. Forecasts indicate it could regain strength over the Mozambique Channel and potentially threaten Madagascar’s southwest coast next week. Mozambique has also issued alerts, warning that coastal provinces could be affected if the storm intensifies again.