Devastation sweeps northern Madagascar as Cyclone Gamane hits, leaving destruction in its wake. At least 11 people have lost their lives and hundreds of homes have been washed away, as the storm unexpectedly changed course and slammed into the island’s Vohemar district. Torrents of water flooded villages, trapping residents in their homes and forcing bystanders to form human chains to assist with rescues.
Roads and bridges were engulfed by floodwaters, cutting off access to the affected areas. General Elack Andriakaja of the BNGRC national disaster management office described the cyclone as unusually stationary, causing widespread devastation to the region’s infrastructure and leaving many stranded. The extent of the damage is still unclear as rescue teams struggle to reach isolated villages.
With average winds reaching 150km/h and gusts of up to 210km/h, Cyclone Gamane has been reclassified as a tropical storm and is expected to leave Madagascar on Friday. The island nation, located off the coast of southeastern Africa, is no stranger to severe weather, having been hit by tropical Cyclone Freddy just last year, causing widespread destruction and claiming over 500 lives in Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi.