Cyclone Batsirai has caused at least 10 deaths and displaced nearly 48,000 people in Madagascar, marking the second major storm within two weeks. The cyclone struck Mananjary with severe winds, resulting in widespread destruction and flooding. Various areas remain isolated as recovery efforts begin amid ongoing challenges from previous storms.
Cyclone Batsirai struck Madagascar, resulting in at least 10 fatalities and displacing nearly 48,000 individuals, as reported by the country’s disaster management office. The cyclone caused significant damage, especially in the town of Ambalavao, where houses collapsed.
This storm marked the second severe weather event to impact Madagascar within two weeks, following Cyclone Ana which had also wreaked havoc across the region. Batsirai made landfall in Mananjary, bringing winds of 165 km/h, uprooting trees, and damaging infrastructure across its path.
One resident, Faby, reported widespread devastation in Mananjary, stating, “Mananjary is completely destroyed, no matter where you go everything is destroyed.” Additionally, Willy Raharijaona, a technical adviser to Madagascar’s Senate, indicated that areas such as Nosy Varika experienced extreme destruction, with significant flooding isolating parts of the southeast.
Forecasters warned that Batsirai posed a substantial threat, having previously affected La Reunion and Mauritius. Approximately 10,000 residents on La Reunion remained without electricity three days post-cyclone. Earlier, Cyclone Ana had already impacted 131,000 people across Madagascar in late January, resulting in 60 deaths.
The national meteorological office, Meteo Madagascar, noted that Batsirai had weakened as it traversed the country. Meanwhile, in Mahanoro, 54-year-old Marie Viviane Rasoanandrasana mourned as rising sea levels compromised local cemeteries, prompting families to seek temporary grave solutions for their loved ones.
Cyclone Batsirai’s destructive force underscores the vulnerability of Madagascar to severe weather events, leading to fatalities, extensive damage, and displacement. Comparatively, its predecessor, Cyclone Ana, had also significantly impacted the region. With infrastructure wrecked and the community struggling, the need for immediate humanitarian assistance has become critical.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
