ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — Cyclone Gezani killed at least 36 people, injured more than 370 and destroyed almost 18,000 homes across Madagascar, authorities said Thursday.
Madagascar's president has declared a national disaster and made a plea for international leaders to help the largely poor Indian Ocean island.
The tropical cyclone made landfall late Tuesday and caused widespread destruction in the main port city of Toamasina on the east coast before tearing across the country.
The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management said Thursday the death toll had risen to at least 36 while six people were missing. It said 374 people were injured and more than 250,000 people were affected by the storm.
Authorities said 32 of the deaths occurred in the Toamasina area, the country’s main port and an economic hub. President Michael Randrianirina said 75% of the city was damaged or destroyed.
Many of Madagascar's 31 million people live in houses that give inadequate shelter from strong storms and authorities said many of the deaths were caused by building collapses.
The disaster agency said 17,980 houses were destroyed and more than 37,000 others were damaged by Gezani, which brought winds in excess of 195 kph (121 mph).
Drone video released by the disaster agency showed the extent of the damage in Toamasina, home to more than 300,000 people. Almost every building sustained major damage by having their roofs or other parts of the structures ripped off. Many buildings were flattened completely, while trees were stripped bare or uprooted and left lying in roads across the city.
Residents trudged through floodwater that reached to their knees as they began to piece their lives back together.
“We can clearly see what Toamasina needs right now: above all, food, basic necessities, and building materials to quickly rebuild everything that has been destroyed in Toamasina and its surroundings,” Randrianirina said after he visited the city that took the brunt of the cyclone. He called on all of Madagascar's people to help with the recovery effort.
Madagascar, off Africa's east coast, is especially vulnerable to destructive storms that blow in off the Indian Ocean. It has been hit by more than a dozen cyclones or strong tropical storms since 2020.
A cyclone hit the northwest part of the island just last month, killing at least 14 people.
AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
People survey the damage done by cyclone Gezani in Toamasina, Madagascar, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Hery Nirina Rabary)
People survey the damage done by cyclone Gezani in Toamasina, Madagascar, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Hery Nirina Rabary)
People survey the damage done by cyclone Gezani in Toamasina, Madagascar, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Hery Nirina Rabary)
Utah appeared to find a loophole in the NBA's player participation policy, but the league sent a message Thursday by hitting the Jazz with a $500,000 fine.
The NBA also docked the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for holding out Pascal Siakam and two other starters in a Feb. 3 game against the Jazz.
The policy was put in place in September 2023 to try to discourage clubs from purposely losing in order to improve their chances with the draft lottery. This year's draft is considered the strongest in several years, possibly incentivizing clubs like the Jazz to position themselves for a high pick.
The Jazz did not play stars Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the fourth quarter of recent close games. Both played three quarters in recent road games against Miami and Orlando. The Magic rallied from 17 points down to win 120-117, but the Jazz defeated the Heat 115-111.
Jazz coach Will Hardy was asked after the game at Miami whether he considered playing Markkanen and Jackson in the fourth quarter.
“I wasn’t,” Hardy said succinctly.
In fining the Jazz said, the NBA said in its release “these players were otherwise able to continue to play and the outcomes of the games were thereafter in doubt.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement the competition committee and team owners will work "to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.”
“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,” Silver said.
Silver likely will further address the topic when he meets with the media Saturday during All-Star weekend in Los Angeles.
“Agree to disagree ...,” Jazz owner Ryan Smith posted on social media. “Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense ...”
The NBA fined Utah $100,000 last season after the Jazz rested Markkanen in multiple games.
He and the recently-acquired Jackson are the building blocks for the Jazz to try to get back into contention. They traded with Memphis on Feb. 3 for the two-time All-Star and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year.
Jackson, however, will be out for the foreseeable future. He will undergo surgery over the NBA all-star break to remove a growth from his left knee, discovered by an MRI in a physical following the trade. Jackson averaged 22.3 points in 24 minutes per game after joining the Jazz.
Utah has prioritized player development with younger players on its roster at the expense of chasing wins. The front office is motivated to hold onto a first-round pick in this year's draft that is top-eight protected. Falling outside the bottom eight in the standings means Utah would lose that pick to Oklahoma City.
A number of teams, including the Jazz, would seem to have a great interest in securing a high selection for this year's draft.
One of those top prospects plays just south of Salt Lake. BYU's AJ Dybantsa is considered a likely top-three and potentially franchise-changing pick along with Duke's Cameron Boozer and Kansas' Darryn Peterson.
But it's also a deep draft where simply getting into the lottery could mean still getting a shot at a difference-making player.
The Jazz, 18-37 entering Thursday night's game against Portland, will miss the postseason for the fourth year in a row. This comes after a six-year stretch in which the Jazz made the playoffs each season.
Under the direction of CEO Danny Ainge and his son and team president, Austin, the Jazz ultimately are trying to return to the glory days when they didn't just make the playoffs. The John Stockton-Karl Malone teams in 1990s were regular championship contenders, making the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998.
Freelance writer John Coon in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy watches play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)
Utah Jazz center Jaren Jackson Jr. (20) is defended by Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud (42) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)
