Cyclone Batsirai Strikes Madagascar, Causing Widespread Concern

Cyclone Batsirai has struck Madagascar with winds exceeding 200 km/h, leading to severe storm warnings. The UN and humanitarian groups are mobilizing resources in response to the storm’s impending impact, with estimates suggesting potential disruption for around 595,000 people. Local residents are reinforcing their homes as the cyclone approaches.

Cyclone Batsirai is currently striking Madagascar’s eastern coast, bringing with it severe winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour (around 124 miles per hour) and heavy rainfall. This is the second cyclone to hit the island nation in a very short span of time, following the devastation from Tropical Storm Ana just weeks earlier. Reports state that the storm made landfall in the Mananjary district, located 530 kilometers (310 miles) southeast of the capital, Antananarivo, and officials are already warning of potential widespread damage.

Confirmed by Lovandrainy Ratovoharisoa, a meteorologist, Batsirai hit Mananjary roughly at 8 p.m. local time (17:00 GMT). Unfortunately, detailed assessments of the damage are not yet available. As Batsirai intensifies, residents had been preparing for the worst, with forecasts predicting wind speeds that could rise up to 250 kilometers per hour at its epicenter. Meanwhile, wave heights are expected to reach ominous levels of 15 meters (about 50 feet).

In response to the cyclone, the United Nations is taking precautionary measures. They have mobilized aid agencies, placed rescue aircraft on standby, and begun stockpiling essential supplies. Jens Laerke, a spokesperson from the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), indicated that the anticipated impact of Batsirai will be significant. Earlier this year, Cyclone Ana affected at least 131,000 people in Madagascar, contributing to at least 58 fatalities, mostly in Antananarivo.

Furthermore, the World Food Programme (WFP) is predicting that Batsirai could directly impact around 595,000 individuals, with as many as 150,000 potentially displaced due to landslides and flooding. Pasqualina Di Sirio, the WFP’s head in Madagascar, expressed deep concern, stating, “We are very nervous.” The urgency of the situation is underscored by the fact that search and rescue teams are already on high alert as the storm approaches.

Local residents are actively reinforcing their homes in anticipation of the cyclone. For instance, Tsarafidy Ben Ali, a 23-year-old coal vendor, was seen securing corrugated iron sheets on his rooftop with bags filled with soil, expressing the need for reinforcement by saying, “The gusts of wind are going to be very strong. That’s why we’re reinforcing the roofs.” The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has estimated that at least 4.4 million individuals may face various risks due to this cyclone.

As Cyclone Batsirai continues to impact Madagascar, the situation remains fluid. Authorities and humanitarian organizations are bracing for the challenges ahead and closely monitoring the developments. The aftermath of this storm could prove to be further testing for a nation still reeling from the effects of its previous cyclones.

Cyclone Batsirai poses a serious threat to Madagascar, bringing with it hazardous winds and heavy rains. The United Nations and relief agencies are mobilizing resources in anticipation of the storm’s impact, which could affect hundreds of thousands. The situation remains concerning, as locals take protective measures against potential devastation.

Original Source: www.aljazeera.com