Death toll in Madagascar cyclone rises to 38, 12,000 displaced

An aerial view of the city of Toamasina, on the east coast of Madagascar, struck by Tropical Cyclone Gezani on February 11, 2026. [AFP]

A cyclone packing violent winds has killed at least 38 people and caused devastation in Madagascar's second-largest city, prompting the country's leader to call for "international solidarity", the national disaster authority said Thursday in an updated toll.

Cyclone Gezani made landfall on Tuesday, slamming into the eastern coastal city of Toamasina, with winds reaching 250 kilometres (155 miles) per hour.