At least 9 dead in Madagascar as Tropical Cyclone Gezani hits the Indian Ocean island

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — At least nine people died on the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar after tropical cyclone Gezani made landfall, packing winds topping 195 kph (121 mph), authorities said Wednesday.

Madagascar’s weather services have issued red alerts for several regions, warning of possible flooding and landslides as Gezani moves across the largely poor country of 31 million people.

The National Disaster Risk Management Office said at least nine people died due to collapsing buildings and at least 19 were injured.

The cyclone made landfall in the eastern town of Toamasina, the island’s main port, which suffered severe damage, residents told The Associated Press.

Malagasy President Michael Randrianirina, who seized power in a military coup in October, visited Toamasina to survey the damage and meet residents, according to videos posted on the president’s office Facebook page.

“It’s devastation. Roofs have been blown away, walls have collapsed, electricity poles have fallen, trees have been uprooted. It looks like a catastrophic landscape,” Michel, a resident of Toamasina, who only gave his first name, said by telephone.

Gezani was expected to cross Madagascar from east to west on Wednesday, although the system had weakened to a tropical storm with winds gusting to around 110 km/h (68 mph), according to the national weather service.

The storm passed about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of the capital, Antananarivo, which is one of the regions under a red alert for possible flooding.

Gezani struck less than two weeks after tropical cyclone Fytia killed 14 people in Madagascar, according to the disaster risk management agency.

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AP Africa News: https://apnews.com/hub/africa