Madagascar: 10,000 inhabitants of the capital in danger from the risk of landslides
On the hill of Ambohidempona, three houses were washed away by a landslide during the previous rainy season.
This area is classified red by the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management.
© RFI / Laetitia Bezain
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2 mins
In Madagascar, 10,000 inhabitants in danger from the risk of rockslides and landslides in this rainy season in the capital, Antananarivo, according to the urban municipality of Antananarivo and the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC ).
15 neighborhoods located around three hills of Antananarivo have been classified in the red zone.
The BNGRC encourages residents to leave the area to go to accommodation sites and avoid further victims.
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With our correspondent in Antananarivo
,
Laetitia Bezain
On the western slope of the hill of Ambohidempona, the consequences of the
landslide of
the previous rainy season are a reminder of the danger hanging over the houses of the district.
Lalah Andriamirado, doctor in geology, is also a technician at the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management.
“
The moisture infiltration is between 30% and 40% in the basement.
These infiltrations are in areas with steep slopes, so these areas are at imminent and permanent risk of landslides or falling boulders,”
he warns.
Here, three houses were swept away in March.
That of Lydie is a few dozen meters away, surrounded by red flags.
“
Of course we are afraid, but we live with it.
We don't sleep day or night when it rains.
We are told to leave, but to go where?
this house is the only one we have.
We don't have the money to pay for another.
We've been living here for 24 years,”
she says.
► To read also: Madagascar: the Upper Town of Antananarivo under the permanent threat of landslides
"Non-control of urbanization"
While evacuation sites and accommodation centers have been set up, no long-term relocation solution has yet been offered to residents.
The proliferation of buildings on these hills in recent years has weakened the soil, explains Lalah Andriamirado: “
The area has been impacted by the demographic explosion which more particularly reflects the lack of control over urbanization.
On the hill of Manjakamiadana, it is very clear that the drainage channels do not follow the rules of the art.
So the flow happens anywhere and it increases the vulnerability of the area
”.
According to figures from the BNGRC, around twenty people have died in landslides and landslides since 2015. The latter has also carried out awareness-raising in the other regions of the island affected by landslides.
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