Overview
- National disaster authorities report at least 31 dead, dozens injured and several missing, with more than 250,000 people counted as affected.
- Toamasina, the island’s main port, saw extreme wind damage, with about 90% of houses affected and the president citing 75% destruction across the city, plus a prolonged power outage.
- In the surrounding Atsinanana region, authorities estimate roughly 80% of infrastructure destroyed, and initial tallies indicate around 6,000 people left homeless.
- Blocked roads, fallen power lines and disrupted telecommunications are hindering search, rescue and relief, while thousands have been evacuated or moved to safety.
- The storm made landfall as an Intense Tropical Cyclone with gusts up to about 270 km/h, then weakened overland to a moderate tropical storm as it tracks toward the Mozambique Channel.