Tropical cyclone hits Madagascar, nine killed

Authorities confirmed nine deaths and said nearly 1,500 people were evacuated after Tropical Cyclone Gezani struck Madagascar; the storm has since weakened to a moderate tropical storm moving inland.

Madagascar's authorities confirmed nine deaths after Tropical Cyclone Gezani struck coastal areas and moved inland, and they reported widespread damage and power outages. The national disaster office said 19 people were injured and nearly 1,500 residents were evacuated from the Toamasina district. This is the second cyclone to affect the country in ten days, following Cyclone Fytia which earlier caused deaths and large-scale displacement. Meteorological services reported Gezani had weakened to a moderate tropical storm by Wednesday morning. Known details: - Nine people were confirmed killed; 19 injured and about 1,500 people were evacuated in Toamasina. - At its peak, Gezani produced sustained winds around 185 km per hour, with gusts near 270 km per hour. - Officials reported the system had weakened to a moderate tropical storm and was moving westward inland about 100 km north of Antananarivo. - The storm is expected to cross the central highlands and move into the Mozambique Channel by Wednesday evening or night; Cyclone Fytia struck about ten days earlier and was reported to have caused 14 deaths and displaced over 31,000 people. Summary: Authorities reported fatalities, injuries and evacuations as Gezani damaged coastal communities and infrastructure. The storm had weakened to a moderate tropical storm and is expected to move across the highlands before entering the Mozambique Channel later on Wednesday.