Madagascar Devastated: Cyclone Gamane Claims 18 Lives, Forces Thousands to Flee
The aftermath of tropical cyclone Gamane has left a trail of destruction across the island of Madagascar, with at least 18 people confirmed dead and thousands more displaced, according to the country’s disaster management office.
Tropical cyclone Gamane struck the northeast of Madagascar on Wednesday and Thursday, displacing over 20,000 people, as reported by the National Bureau of Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC). The cyclone brought with it average winds of 150 km per hour and gusts reaching 210 km per hour when it made landfall north of Vohémar on Wednesday morning.
Although Gamane slowly dissipated on Thursday afternoon while still over land, its impact was severe, with heavy rainfall leading to flooding in many areas. The north of Madagascar experienced infrastructure damage, including collapsed roads and bridges, further exacerbating the challenges faced by affected communities.
Photographs shared on the disaster management office’s Facebook page depict personnel wading through knee-deep water to assist residents in retrieving belongings from their flooded homes, highlighting the extent of the devastation caused by the cyclone.
Gamane marks the onset of Madagascar’s cyclone and storm season for this year. Last year, cyclone Freddy and tropical storm Cheneso claimed the lives of at least 37 people and displaced numerous others, underscoring the recurring threat posed by extreme weather events in the region.
The aftermath of tropical cyclone Gamane has left a trail of destruction across the island of Madagascar, with at least 18 people confirmed dead and thousands more displaced, according to the country’s disaster management office.
Tropical cyclone Gamane struck the northeast of Madagascar on Wednesday and Thursday, displacing over 20,000 people, as reported by the National Bureau of Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC). The cyclone brought with it average winds of 150 km per hour and gusts reaching 210 km per hour when it made landfall north of Vohémar on Wednesday morning.
Although Gamane slowly dissipated on Thursday afternoon while still over land, its impact was severe, with heavy rainfall leading to flooding in many areas. The north of Madagascar experienced infrastructure damage, including collapsed roads and bridges, further exacerbating the challenges faced by affected communities.
Photographs shared on the disaster management office’s Facebook page depict personnel wading through knee-deep water to assist residents in retrieving belongings from their flooded homes, highlighting the extent of the devastation caused by the cyclone.
Gamane marks the onset of Madagascar’s cyclone and storm season for this year. Last year, cyclone Freddy and tropical storm Cheneso claimed the lives of at least 37 people and displaced numerous others, underscoring the recurring threat posed by extreme weather events in the region.
