 Cyclone Geralda ( also known as Intense Tropical Cyclone Geralda ) was a powerful tropical cyclone that caused catastrophic damage in Madagascar in late January 1994 , among the strongest to hit the country . It originated from an area of low pressure over the Indian Ocean on January 25 . Over the following few days , the depression underwent gradual intensification , reaching its peak intensity with ten @-@ minute sustained winds of 200 km / h ( 125 mph ) on January 31 . Cyclone Geralda made landfall near Toamasina , Madagascar after weakening from its peak intensity . Within hours of moving onshore , the system had substantially weakened , and by February 5 , Geralda had degenerated into a land depression , and it became extratropical three days later . 
