A new official toll reported on Monday that at least 59 people have died and 15 others are missing following the passage of tropical cyclone “Gizane” through Toamasina, Madagascar’s second-largest city, six days ago.
The cyclone, accompanied by winds reaching 250 km/h, caused widespread destruction in the Toamasina region, located in the northeast of the large Indian Ocean island.
Most of the victims of Cyclone Gizane were in Toamasina, which has a population of approximately 400,000, according to an updated report published Monday by the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management.
A previous report indicated more than 40 deaths, while over 800 residents were injured and 16,000 were forced to flee their homes.
Damage to housing was severe, with about 25,000 homes destroyed and another 27,000 flooded, while more than 200 classrooms were partially or completely destroyed.
On Friday, the World Food Programme highlighted the critical situation of the local population, warning that “the city is operating with only about 5% of its electricity supply and has no water.”
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