The death toll from Cyclone Jezani in Madagascar has risen to 59, with widespread destruction
Madagascar has been struck by a new humanitarian disaster as the death toll from Tropical Cyclone Jizani continues to rise. The cyclone slammed violently into the country's east coast, leaving widespread destruction and significant loss of life and property. Authorities today released alarming figures reflecting the scale of the tragedy in Toamasina and surrounding areas, with the death toll now at least 59, while 15 people remain missing.
The scale of the destruction and human losses
According to updated official data, the cyclone that struck the country six days ago was accompanied by record-breaking winds of 250 kilometers per hour, uprooting trees and destroying infrastructure. Statistics indicate that more than 800 people sustained injuries of varying severity, while approximately 16,000 citizens were forced to evacuate their homes in search of safer shelter.
The damage was not limited to human losses, but also affected property in an unprecedented way, as about 25,000 homes were completely destroyed, and another 27,000 homes were flooded by torrential rains and flash floods, leaving thousands of families out in the open and exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the affected areas.
Madagascar and the cyclone season: a geographical and climatic context
Madagascar, the world's fourth-largest island, is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the Indian Ocean region. The country faces an annual cyclone season, typically from November to April, during which it is subjected to devastating tropical storms that directly impact its economic development and fragile infrastructure.
Typhoon Jizani adds to a series of climate-related disasters that have struck the island in recent years, reflecting warnings from experts and climate scientists about the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events as a result of global climate change. These recurring storms prevent local communities from fully recovering before the next disaster strikes, exacerbating poverty and vulnerability.
Economic repercussions and the need for international support
This cyclone is expected to have long-lasting economic impacts, particularly on the agricultural sector, on which a large part of Madagascar's population depends. The heavily damaged Toamasina region is a vital center for trade and agriculture, and the destruction of roads and bridges will hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid and the distribution of food and medicine to isolated areas.
Under these circumstances, there is an urgent need for the international community and relief organizations to intervene and provide immediate support, whether by providing shelter and food for the displaced or by helping to rebuild what the cyclone destroyed, in order to avoid exacerbating the health and social crisis in the country.
