Just weeks after Cyclone Fytia wreaked havoc, Madagascar is reeling from yet another devastating blow: Cyclone Gezani. This relentless onslaught of extreme weather is leaving the island nation battered and bruised, raising urgent questions about the escalating impact of climate change.
Published on February 11, 2026, reports paint a grim picture of Gezani's fury. Madagascar’s national weather service warns of hurricane-force winds and torrential rains continuing as the cyclone carves its destructive path across the island. Residents describe scenes of widespread devastation, with homes reduced to rubble, roofs torn off, and streets submerged in floodwaters. But here's where it gets even more alarming: Meteo Madagascar's 1am update (22:00 GMT) predicts “widespread flooding, flash floods, and landslides” as Gezani marches toward the central highlands, a region already vulnerable to such disasters.
Red alerts, signaling imminent danger, have been issued for northeastern regions including Analanjirofo, Atsinanana, Alaotra Mangoro, Analamanga, and Betsiboka. The situation is dire, with residents already reporting flooding, power outages, and extensive damage to homes. One Toamasina resident, speaking to AFP during a brief window of restored communication, described the scene as “monstrous.” “Everything is devastated,” they said, painting a picture of collapsed walls, flooded floors, and roofs scattered like leaves in the wind. And this is in a neighborhood known for its well-built homes, highlighting the cyclone's sheer power.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, Madagascar's leader following the October military coup, has pledged to visit Toamasina, the capital of Atsinanana and the country's main seaport, once Gezani passes. This move, while symbolic, underscores the gravity of the situation. The CMRS cyclone forecaster on Reunion Island confirms Toamasina bore the brunt of Gezani's most intense phase, a chilling reminder of the cyclone's ferocity. In fact, CMRS suggests Gezani's landfall rivals the intensity of Cyclone Geralda in 1994, a storm that left 200 dead and half a million affected.
While Gezani weakened to a tropical storm as it moved inland, it's expected to regain cyclone strength as it crosses the Mozambique Channel. Meteo Madagascar predicts it will reach the channel between Maintirano and Morondava by tomorrow evening or overnight, continuing its destructive march toward the African mainland.
Gezani's arrival comes less than two weeks after Cyclone Fytia struck northwestern Madagascar, killing at least 12 people and displacing 31,000, according to the UN's OCHA. Fytia left a trail of destruction, damaging or destroying 18,600 homes, 493 classrooms, and 20 health facilities, while also devastating rice fields and contaminating drinking water supplies, posing serious public health risks.
This double whammy of cyclones raises a crucial question: Are island nations like Madagascar becoming the frontlines in the battle against climate change? Rising sea levels and warming oceans, fueled by climate change, are expected to intensify tropical storms, making them more frequent and destructive. And this is the part most people miss: the human cost of these disasters is immeasurable, with communities displaced, livelihoods shattered, and lives lost.
As the world grapples with the escalating climate crisis, Madagascar's plight serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action. Will we heed the warning signs, or will we continue to ignore the monstrous consequences of our inaction? The debate is open – what do you think? Is enough being done to support vulnerable nations like Madagascar in the face of increasingly extreme weather events?
