Death Toll In Madagascar Cyclone Rises to 38, 12,000 Displaced

At least 38 people were killed when Cyclone Gezani slammed into Madagascar's second-largest city, Toamasina, earlier this week. The storm made landfall on Tuesday with winds reaching 250 kilometres per hour, ravaging up to 75 percent of the city and its surrounding areas. The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNRGC) reported 38 deaths, six missing persons, and 374 injuries. Over 12,000 people have been displaced, with 18,000 homes destroyed and 50,000 damaged or flooded. Infrastructure damage is significant, with the main road to the capital, Antananarivo, cut off and telecommunications unstable. France has announced food aid and rescue teams from Reunion Island. The storm is currently tracking through the Mozambique Channel and is expected to regain cyclone intensity before potentially striking southern Mozambique on Friday evening. Mozambican authorities have issued urgent warnings for residents to evacuate coastal areas.