Cyclone Gezani made a strong landfall in Madagascar on Tuesday. It caused a lot of destruction. The winds were very powerful. They reached speeds of 250 km/hour. The storm has caused at least 31 deaths. The main port city, Toamasina, is in "total chaos." Buildings are damaged and many homes are destroyed. Power is out in many neighborhoods. This makes helping people very difficult.
The cyclone was extremely strong. Colonel Michael Randrianirina from Madagascar's military spoke about the damage. He said that "nearly 75% of the city of Toamasina was destroyed." This shows how powerful the cyclone was. Trees were uprooted and power lines fell down. Buildings were reduced to rubble. Roofs were torn off houses.
Disaster officials are working with aid groups like Action Against Hunger. Rija Randrianarisoa from Action Against Hunger said that "90% of house roofs have been blown off." This means damage is very widespread. Forecasters noted that Gezani became very strong quickly. It was one of the most powerful storms recorded near Toamasina.
In the first few days after the storm, people tried to rescue injured people. Many people received medical help. Hundreds of others had to leave their homes for safety. Many homes collapsed. This led to some of the deaths.
The cyclone will have a big impact on the economy. Toamasina is Madagascar's most important port. Damage to the port will affect trade. Power outages will also make helping people harder. Officials say that Madagascar cannot handle this alone. They need international help. A resident described the terrifying experience. They felt helpless and devastated. The world is being asked to help Madagascar rebuild.