The eye of cyclone Batsirai hits Madagascar and does its first damage
Displaced people from Cyclone Ana and Batsirai found refuge in this gymnasium in Ankorondrano, February 5, 2022. REUTERS - ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS
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Cyclone Batsirai made landfall on the east coast of Madagascar last night (Saturday) at 8 p.m. north of the town of Mananjary.
It will cross the Big Island from east to west overnight and on Sunday morning, "
remaining globally at a dangerous stage
", indicates the direction of meteorology in Madagascar.
Batsirai carries with it average winds of 165 km / h and gusts peaking at 230 km / h which caused the first damage.
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Cyclone Batsirai hit the city of Mananzare at 8 p.m. local time, on the east coast of the Big Island.
As of yesterday several regions of the country were placed on cyclonic red alert, the authorities called on the population to barricade themselves.
► Read also:
Madagascar holds its breath before the arrival of Cyclone Batsirai
In Manourou, 150 km from the eye of the cyclone, residents are getting ready, stocking up, pruning trees, reinforcing roofs.
But at the same time, they were very calm, walking in the street, standing on the steps of their barricaded houses waiting for the cyclone, noted our special
correspondent Laure Verneau
.
However, the warning signs are there: squalls of rain, gusts, waves five, six meters high.
Infrared satellite imagery of #Batsirai landfall over Madagascar.
Actual landfall occurred around 7PM CAT Batsirai was still over Madagascar at midnight and is expected to enter the Mozambique channel late Sunday or Early Monday.
pic.twitter.com/9Nj1zMQ56D
— ZIMCAST (@ZIM_CAST) February 5, 2022
The situation is also very precarious for those who have taken refuge in accommodation centers in anticipation of the cyclone.
They do not know when they will be able to return home or if their house will be destroyed.
Refugees are already sick because of the lack of drinking water.
Food is also lacking.
35 million dollars out of 50 were released by the Malagasy State for the natural disaster.
However, the only bags of rice that this shelter received came from private operators.
Huge waves in Mananjary
"
Many huts destroyed, fallen trees blocking the road and a town flooded by the rising sea, huge waves falling with great force
", this is what the commander of the gendarmerie company of Mananjary, entry point of the cyclone.
"
The roofs of several accommodation sites have blown off and the displaced people who were there have been transferred to the town's college
", continues Captain Heninjoa Ravahalahy, who specifies that it is currently impossible to get out. to assess the damage due to the power of the wind, reports
Laetitia Bezain
in Antananarivo.
100 km to the north, in Nosy Varika, several electric poles fell, describes a member of the police.
Further south, in Manakara, the winds and rains are also very intense.
Just over 6,000 people have been displaced.
Nine regions and six districts on the East Coast and Highlands are on red alert for imminent danger.
Hundreds of homes are without electricity.
This was cut off as a precaution because of the force of the gusts of wind and the rains, authorities said.
“
The damage is still difficult to assess
,” explains the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management.
Just over 40,000 people across the island were evacuated to schools, gymnasiums and even churches before the cyclone hit.
According to forecasts from the Madagascar Meteorological Department, Batsirai will go out to sea tomorrow afternoon in the Mozambique Channel.
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