Cyclone Gezani has devastated Madagascar, destroying nearly 18,000 homes and leaving at least 36 people dead, according to authorities.

Cyclone Gezani has killed at least 36 people, injured more than 370, and destroyed nearly 18,000 homes across Madagascar, authorities said on Thursday.

Madagascar’s president declared a national disaster and appealed for international assistance for the impoverished Indian Ocean island nation.

The tropical cyclone made landfall late Tuesday, causing extensive damage in the eastern port city of Toamasina before sweeping across the country. The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management said the death toll had risen to 36, with six people still missing. At least 374 people were reported injured, while more than 250,000 residents were affected.

Officials said 32 of the fatalities occurred in the Toamasina region, Madagascar’s main port and a key economic center. President Michael Randrianirina stated that roughly 75 percent of the city was damaged or destroyed.

Many of Madagascar’s 31 million residents live in fragile housing structures, leaving them highly exposed to extreme weather. Authorities said numerous deaths were caused by collapsing buildings.

According to the disaster management agency, 17,980 homes were destroyed and more than 37,000 others damaged as Gezani battered the island with winds exceeding 195 kph (121 mph).

Drone footage released by authorities highlighted the scale of devastation in Toamasina, a city of more than 300,000 people. The video showed widespread structural damage, with roofs torn away, buildings flattened, trees uprooted, and streets submerged under floodwaters.

Residents were seen wading through knee-deep water as recovery efforts began.

“We can clearly see what Toamasina needs right now: above all, food, basic necessities, and building materials to quickly rebuild everything that has been destroyed,” Randrianirina said after visiting the city. He also urged citizens nationwide to support relief operations.

Madagascar, located off Africa’s east coast, is particularly vulnerable to powerful cyclones from the Indian Ocean. The country has endured more than a dozen cyclones or severe tropical storms since 2020. Just last month, another cyclone struck the island’s northwest, killing at least 14 people.