Cyclone Batsirai Devastates Madagascar: Casualties and Displacement Reach Alarming Levels
Cyclone Batsirai has claimed at least 10 lives and displaced nearly 48,000 people in Madagascar, causing significant destruction and flooding. This severe storm follows Tropical Storm Ana, intensifying the crisis faced by local communities with ongoing relief challenges.
Cyclone Batsirai has resulted in at least 10 fatalities and displaced nearly 48,000 individuals in Madagascar, as reported by the country’s disaster management office. This devastating cyclone caused homes to collapse and significant flooding, particularly impacting the town of Ambalavao, situated approximately 460 kilometers south of the capital, Antananarivo.
The cyclone made landfall with winds reaching 165 km/h (103 mph), wreaking havoc in Mananjary by uprooting trees and severely damaging structures. Residents resorted to securing their corrugated iron roofs amidst the chaos. One affected resident, Faby, described the scene, stating that “Mananjary is completely destroyed, no matter where you go everything is destroyed.”
Willy Raharijaona, a technical adviser to the Vice President of Madagascar’s Senate, noted that significant areas in the southeast are entirely isolated due to flooding. He remarked, “It’s as if we had just been bombed. The city of Nosy Varika is almost 95 percent destroyed.”
Meteorological predictions had warned of the cyclone’s severe threat, especially after it passed by Mauritius and resulted in heavy rainfall in La Reunion, where 10,000 residents were still without power days later. In a related event, Tropical Storm Ana had earlier impacted at least 131,000 individuals in Madagascar, resulting in nearly 60 deaths.
While Batsirai weakened as it traversed the island, reports from Mahanoro revealed harrowing scenes of damage. Marie Viviane Rasoanandrasana, a grieving widow, observed how coastal erosion had exposed her family’s graves. She expressed her sorrow, noting, “Daily life is already very hard,” as she anticipated having to secure temporary burials until financial conditions improve for a proper service.
Cyclone Batsirai has severely impacted Madagascar, leading to fatalities, mass displacement, and significant structural destruction. The cyclone is the second major storm to ravage the island within weeks, following Tropical Storm Ana, which had already caused extensive devastation. Communities are grappling with the aftermath of severe flooding and infrastructural damage, leaving many residents in perilous conditions.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
