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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
A previous report indicated more than 40 deaths, while over 800 residents were injured and 16,000 were forced to flee their homes.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n