Cyclone 'Gombe' Death Toll Rises to 38 in Madagascar's Second City; Thousands Displaced

Thirty-eight people have died in Toamasina, Madagascar's second-largest city, following the devastation caused by Cyclone Gombe. More than 12,000 people have reportedly been displaced.

Madagascar's National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) reported on Thursday that six people are still missing and at least 374 people have been injured.

The cyclone caused landslides in the eastern coastal city of Madagascar on Tuesday. The country's new President, Colonel Michel Randrianirina, declared a national disaster and called for international solidarity. According to him, the cyclone caused damage to approximately 75 percent of the area in and around Toamasina.

Photos from news agency AFP showed the destruction wrought by the storm in the city of 500,000 inhabitants. Residents were seen searching for wood and metal to repair temporary shelters amidst piles of debris.

According to the BNGRC, more than 18,000 homes were completely destroyed, and at least 50,000 homes were damaged or affected by flooding. Most deaths were reported due to the collapse of weak structures and buildings. Humanitarian aid delivery has been hampered by blocked major road networks.

The Atsinanana region surrounding Toamasina has also suffered extensive damage. France has announced it will send food and rescue teams from its Reunion Island. The International Organization for Migration of the United Nations has also stated that the cyclone caused widespread devastation.