UPDATE - Death toll rises to 20 as Cyclone Gezani strikes Madagascar’s east coast

REVISES DEATH TOLL, INJURIES; ADDS DETAILS; CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE

By Mevlut Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The death toll from Cyclone Gezani rose to 20, with at least 15 others reported missing and dozens more injured, after the powerful storm struck Madagascar’s east coast, the country’s disaster agency said Wednesday.

The storm has left 33 people seriously injured, damaged over 3,200 homes, and displaced 2,742 people across the hardest-hit regions of Madagascar, according to the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management.

Cyclone Gezani made landfall in Toamasina, the regional capital of Atsinanana, at around 7.30 pm local time (GMT1630), with winds reaching 112 miles (180 kilometers) per hour and a storm surge of up to 155 mph (250 kph) near the city center.

It severely affected the eastern regions of Atsinanana, Analanjirofo, and Alaotra Mangoro, along with the central Analamanga region.

The disaster management office said local officials and NGOs are coordinating immediate aid and planning long-term recovery efforts for those affected.

The storm is expected to move through the Mozambique Channel, just two weeks after Cyclone Fytia claimed 12 lives.