Eleven dead, thousands affected as powerful cyclone strikes Madagascar

Cyclone Gamane struck northern Madagascar, causing at least 11 deaths and extensive destruction to homes, Al Jazeera reported.

The storm changed course and hit the island’s Vohemar district, leading to flooding, collapsed houses, and fallen trees, the article added.

The cyclone’s slow movement caused significant infrastructure damage and flooding, with many villages cut off from the rest of the country.

The cyclone, with an average wind speed of 150km/h and heavy rainfall, has been reclassified as a tropical storm and was expected to leave the island on Friday afternoon.