One of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded in the southwestern Indian Ocean has slammed into Madagascar, leaving a trail of destruction across the island nation's eastern coast. Intense Tropical Cyclone Gezani made landfall near Toamasina on February 10, 2026, with sustained winds of 220 km/h and gusts exceeding 250 km/h.
Scale of Destruction
The cyclone has killed at least 59 people — 32 in Toamasina Province alone — injured more than 800, and left 15 others missing. Over 478,000 people have been affected, with more than 20,800 displaced from their homes. The damage to housing has been staggering: 18,797 homes were completely destroyed and 51,760 others damaged, alongside 761 schools and 30 health facilities. Economic losses are estimated at US$2 billion, making Gezani the costliest tropical cyclone of the 2026 season so far.
Meteorologists have described Gezani as one of the most intense cyclones to make landfall in Madagascar during the satellite era, rivalling Cyclone Geralda in February 1994. The storm's intensity overwhelmed local infrastructure and left entire communities without power, clean water, or access to medical care.
Humanitarian Response
The Malagasy government is leading the response through its National Bureau for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC), with humanitarian partners scaling up multi-sector assistance. A US$67.8 million Flash Appeal was launched on February 24 to assist 486,000 people.
The American Red Cross is supporting the response through the IFRC. The Malagasy Red Cross Society activated its early action protocol before landfall, pre-positioning volunteers and community response teams in Fenerive Est and Toamasina to deliver anticipatory actions and emergency relief.
World Central Kitchen has deployed to provide hot, nutritious, and culturally appropriate meals to displaced families and communities cut off by the storm's devastation.
CARE International is working alongside UNICEF and other partners to deliver integrated, life-saving support across water, sanitation and hygiene, health, nutrition, education, and child protection in the hardest-hit areas.
How You Can Help
The Cyclone Gezani disaster page on the Relief Directory provides direct links to donate to organizations actively responding on the ground. With hundreds of thousands still in need of shelter, clean water, and medical care, continued support is critical to help Madagascar recover from this catastrophic storm.
