Cyclone Batsirai has resulted in at least 10 deaths and displaced approximately 48,000 residents in Madagascar, causing extensive damage in affected areas. This cyclone follows closely on the heels of Tropical Storm Ana, further complicating recovery efforts. The severe winds and flooding have led to isolated regions and significant destruction of property, highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by communities in the cyclone’s path.
Cyclone Batsirai, which struck Madagascar, has resulted in at least 10 fatalities and displaced nearly 48,000 residents. The cyclone made landfall in Mananjary with wind speeds reaching 165km/h (103 mph), resulting in significant destruction and flooding across the region. Reports indicate that some individuals lost their lives when their homes collapsed in Ambalavao, situated approximately 460 kilometers south of the capital, Antananarivo.
This storm marks the second severe weather event to impact Madagascar in just two weeks, following the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Ana. Residents in affected areas have been reportedly forced to secure their roofs against the storm. One witness described Mananjary as “completely destroyed,” highlighting the widespread damage inflicted by Cyclone Batsirai.
Willy Raharijaona, an adviser to the vice president of Madagascar’s Senate, stated that southeastern parts of the country have been isolated due to flooding, likening the destruction to a bombing. He estimated that Nosy Varika has seen a destruction rate of nearly 95 percent. The national meteorological service had earlier warned that Batsirai posed a significant danger after its path included Mauritius and La Reunion, where damage was also substantial.
In La Reunion, around 10,000 residents remained without power three days post-cyclone, while 12 people sustained injuries. The impact of Cyclone Batsirai follows the earlier devastation of Tropical Storm Ana, which claimed approximately 60 lives and affected over 131,000 individuals in late January, crossing into other countries such as Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
Although Batsirai has weakened while traversing Madagascar, its consequences have been severe. In Mahanoro, local resident Marie Viviane Rasoanandrasana spoke of the loss experienced in her family due to erosion caused by rising sea levels affecting nearby graves. She expressed the hardship of daily life and the necessity of finding resources to provide a respectable burial for her family members.
The circumstances surrounding Cyclone Batsirai emphasize the pressing need for support and recovery measures in Madagascar as authorities and residents confront the aftermath of this natural disaster, alongside a season already marred by severe tropical weather.
The impact of Cyclone Batsirai on Madagascar has been devastating, with at least 10 reported casualties and the displacement of roughly 48,000 individuals. As the country grapples with the aftermath of this storm, it continues to recover from the previous Tropical Storm Ana, which had already left a profound mark on the population. The challenges faced by the residents, both in physical destruction and emotional loss, underscore the urgent need for relief efforts and community support in the wake of these natural disasters.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
