Cyclone Batsirai Hits Madagascar, Causing Fears of Widespread Damage

Cyclone Batsirai has struck Madagascar’s eastern region with devastating winds and rain, marking the second storm in recent weeks. The United Nations reports widespread damage potential as around 595,000 people could be directly affected by the storm’s impact. Precautions are being taken by residents as well as emergency teams, with many reinforcing homes ahead of the storm’s arrival.

Cyclone Batsirai has made landfall on Madagascar, unleashing winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour (124 miles per hour) and heavy rainfall on the eastern region of the island. This marks the second storm to impact Madagascar within a few weeks, following the preceding Tropical Storm Ana. Batsirai struck in the Mananjary district, approximately 530 kilometers southeast of the capital, Antananarivo, raising alarms about potential widespread damage.

Meteorologist Lovandrainy Ratovoharisoa confirmed that Batsirai hit Mananjary around 8 PM local time, but further details remained sparse. Residents took precautions ahead of the storm, with predictions suggesting winds might hit even higher at impact points. The eye of the storm is expected to cross the island overnight into Sunday before exiting through the western coast by Monday.

The storm could bring winds up to 250 km/h and waves as tall as 15 meters (50 feet), according to reports from Meteo-France. In light of the impending disaster, the United Nations declared it was enhancing its emergency response, including positioning rescue aircraft and stockpiling humanitarian supplies to assist affected populations.

UN representatives have indicated that the impact of Cyclone Batsirai could be significant. Jens Laerke, OCHA’s spokesperson, relayed concerns from Geneva, referencing the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Ana that occurred in late January, which left at least 131,000 people impacted and more than 58 fatalities.

As the threat looms, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned that an estimated 595,000 individuals could be directly affected by Batsirai’s impact, with potential additional displacement of 150,000 people driven by new landslides and flooding. “We are very nervous,” said Pasqualina Di Sirio, the WFP head in Madagascar, highlighting the urgency of the situation during a video conference from the Indian Ocean island.

Local residents have been on alert, with many taking steps to reinforce their homes in anticipation of the storm’s fury. Tsarafidy Ben Ali, a young coal seller, described his efforts to secure his home by weighing down roofing materials with bags of soil. “The gusts of wind are going to be very strong. That’s why we’re reinforcing the roofs,” he informed an AFP journalist.

According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Cyclone Batsirai poses risks to approximately 4.4 million individuals in the affected areas. As Madagascar braces for the storm’s impact, the fear of widespread destruction looms, with communities already on edge from recent weather-related disasters.

Cyclone Batsirai is hitting Madagascar hard, leading to extreme winds and heavy rain. With residents on alert and emergency response efforts ramped up, authorities fear considerable damage and impacts on hundreds of thousands of people. The aftermath of the storm will likely exacerbate the challenges already faced by the island nation following the recent Tropical Storm Ana, which wreaked havoc just weeks ago. Community resilience is being tested as residents strive to protect their homes and livelihoods from this unfolding disaster.

Original Source: www.aljazeera.com