The death toll from tropical storm Ana, which hit several countries in southern Africa, has risen to 77, according to the latest reports given on Thursday (January 27th).

In the evening, a national state of disaster was declared in Madagascar where 48 people were killed.

In Mozambique, 18 people died and 11 in Malawi.

The storm also affected Zimbabwe but no fatalities were reported. 

The heavy rains started last week on the coast bordering the Indian Ocean and in the Mozambique Channel.

Major damage

Tens of thousands of houses were damaged, some collapsed under the weight of the liters of water that fell in a few days, victims found themselves trapped.

Bridges have collapsed over flooded rivers, carrying away cars and their occupants.

The floods also washed away livestock and drowned fields, destroying the livelihood of some residents. 

In Madagascar, 130,000 people have been forced to leave their homes.

In the capital Antananarivo, gymnasiums and schools have been requisitioned and transformed into emergency accommodation.

After crossing the Indian Ocean, Ana hit northern and central Mozambique.

In northern and central Mozambique, Storm Ana destroyed around 10,000 homes, dozens of schools, hospitals and knocked down power lines.

The government and the United Nations estimate the number of people affected in several provinces at 500,000.

New storm

A new storm, named Batsirai and which formed in the Indian Ocean, is expected to hit the country in the coming days, according to the Mozambique Meteorological Service.

It "could develop into a serious tropical thunderstorm in the coming days," according to a United Nations statement.

Four to six cyclones are expected in the region by the end of March, the end of the rainy season. 

According to Myrta Kaulard, UN representative in Mozambique, "the situation is extremely worrying" and "the vulnerability is very, very high".

"Mozambique is responding to a complex crisis in the north which has created additional pressure on the country's budget, on the population, and in addition it also has Covid-19", estimates Myrta Kaulard, who adds that the "challenge is gigantic".

In neighboring Malawi, the state declared a state of natural disaster, with power cuts earlier this week.

Power was partially restored on Thursday.

With AFP

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