Madagascar: a violent fire ravages a district of Antananarivo

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In Madagascar, 1,617 victims and three injured, two of whom were serious, were listed after a violent fire that broke out late Tuesday afternoon in a popular district of the capital, Antananarivo. This kind of fire, although generally less violent, regularly occurs in the capital. At issue: the construction of wooden huts glued to each other.

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From our correspondent in Antananarivo , Laetitia Bezain

Ashes and calcined sheets. This is what remains of nearly 300 wooden huts in the densely populated area of ​​67 hectares. “  Our house was far from the flames at first but in a few minutes the fire spread to the dwellings. We couldn't save anything  , ”says Beby, one of the residents.

The victims were moved to a local soccer field. "  We are in tents but yesterday (Tuesday) we slept in the open air because there was nothing,  " explains Hélène, who saw her house burn down. About twenty tents have been installed by the Red Cross and the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management. Food and blankets were also distributed. But electricity and sanitation are lacking for these hundreds of victims.

Police have yet to determine the cause of the fire, but several residents report a cooking fire left unattended. “  According to the town planning plan, wooden houses have no place in the capital. So all of these homes were illegal constructions  , ”said district vice-president Jeremy Vanomana. Illegal homes that are often the only roof these poor families can rent.

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