What's happened
Cyclone Gezani struck Madagascar and Mozambique in February 2026, displacing over 16,000 people, damaging thousands of homes and schools, and causing injuries and fatalities. The storm follows recent disasters, stretching regional response efforts amid ongoing climate-related challenges.
What's behind the headline?
The recent cyclones highlight the increasing impact of climate change on Southern Africa, with Gezani's intensity and rapid succession exposing vulnerabilities in disaster preparedness. Madagascar's infrastructure, especially in Toamasina, is ill-equipped to handle such storms, leading to widespread displacement and damage. The storm's looping trajectory suggests a pattern of intensified weather systems that will likely continue, demanding regional adaptation strategies. The response efforts, supported by international aid, are critical but strained, emphasizing the need for long-term resilience investments. The ongoing climate crisis will make such events more frequent and severe, requiring urgent global action to mitigate future risks.
What the papers say
All Africa reports the immediate impact, including displacement and damage assessments, emphasizing the storm's severity. The Independent provides detailed figures on casualties and the storm's trajectory, highlighting Mozambique's ongoing recovery from recent floods. Reuters consolidates official data on displacement, injuries, and forecasted paths, underscoring the storm's international significance. Al Jazeera offers a broader regional perspective, noting the storm's destruction in Madagascar and Mozambique, and the climate change factors exacerbating these disasters. The contrasting coverage underscores the widespread and interconnected nature of these weather events, with each source emphasizing different aspects of the crisis.
How we got here
Madagascar experienced back-to-back cyclones in February 2026, with Gezani hitting just ten days after Cyclone Fytia. The region is vulnerable due to climate change, which has increased the frequency and severity of weather disasters. Mozambique also faces similar risks, recovering from recent floods and severe weather events. The storms have overwhelmed local infrastructure and emergency services, complicating relief efforts.
Go deeper
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Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, and previously known as the Malagasy Republic, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately 400 kilometres off the coast of East Africa.
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Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in Southern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Africa to the sout