Madagascar: five regions of the island placed in vigilance heavy rains
Madagascar, the coast near Mananjary after the passage of cyclones Batsirai and Emnati in February 2022. © REUTERS / Alkis Konstantinidis
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In Madagascar, several regions of the Big Island are placed on heavy rain vigilance by the meteorological department.
Risks of water stagnation, flash floods and landslides are to be feared in the northwestern and eastern parts, and in the capital region, the latter indicates.
In this rainy season, the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management calls on the population to take warning messages seriously to avoid loss of life.
Advertising
Read more
with our correspondent in Antananarivo,
Laetitia Bezain
The yellow “threat notice” alert was launched in the regions of Sofia, Analanjirofo, Atsinanana, Alaotra Mangoro and Analamanga.
Local committees have been set up across the island to transmit vigilance instructions and guide residents, especially those who live in the most at-risk areas.
“
For those who live in the heights, there is the risk of landslides,
explains John Heriniandry Razafimandimby, director of the Center for Studies, Reflection, Monitoring and Orientation at the BNGRC (National Bureau of risk and disaster management)
.
We have already put up red flags to indicate that these places must be evacuated quickly in the event of heavy rain.
►
To read also
: in
Madagascar, thousands of disaster victims and displaced people after the passage of cyclone Emnati
There are also neighborhoods that are near riverbeds, really exposed to rising water. Those who live there will have to join the shelters already pre-identified for them. Be that as it may, the special attention, the vigilance, is for everyone because even in neighborhoods that are not liable to flooding, we could be dealing with already quite dilapidated houses which may experience material damage and human damage. There are also retaining wall slides which are really to be feared.
»
According to weather forecasts, one to two cyclones could impact the Big Island during this season.
“
The hurricane season in Madagascar begins in November and ends in April.
The BNGRC organized workshops of lessons learned during the last hurricane season in order to be able to improve the coordination of this year's season.
(...) We have updated our contingency plan and organized simulation exercises.
At all administrative levels, there are risk and disaster management structures: in municipalities, districts and regions.
There are also rescue teams at the fokontany level (Editor’s note: neighborhoods or hamlets).
All these structures are already formed
,
”
said the Deputy Director General of the Office of Risk and Disaster Management, Mirana Miarimanana Razafimanantsoa.
►
Also to listen to
:
Madagascar, what resilience after the passage of a cyclone?
Last year, six tropical depressions, storms and cyclones hit the island causing 206 deaths and 460,000 victims.
►
Also to listen
: in Madagascar, protecting mangroves to better resist the effects of climate change
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
Madagascar
Weather
Natural disasters