Cyclone Batsirai Hits Madagascar, Threatening Widespread Damage

Cyclone Batsirai hit Madagascar on Saturday with winds exceeding 200km/h. The storm, which made landfall in Mananjary, threatens significant damage following Tropical Storm Ana. The UN and WFP are responding, preparing humanitarian aid as Batsirai could affect nearly 600,000 people and displace many more.

Cyclone Batsirai has unleashed chaos on Madagascar, hitting the eastern region with ferocious winds and torrential rain. The cyclone made landfall in the Mananjary district on Saturday evening, around 530 kilometers southeast of Antananarivo. Wind speeds exceeded 200 kilometers per hour (124 miles per hour), raising alarms about ‘widespread damage,’ as authorities brace for severe impacts. This marks the second major storm to strike the nation within weeks, following Tropical Storm Ana’s earlier devastation.

Meteorologist Lovandrainy Ratovoharisoa confirmed the cyclone’s arrival around 8 PM local time but refrained from providing detailed observations. Residents had prepared for the storm’s onslaught, taking shelter and securing their homes. The eye of Batsirai is predicted to traverse the island through the night into Sunday, exiting the western coast by Monday morning. For now, authorities are especially concerned about gusts potentially reaching up to 250 kilometers per hour and tidal waves rising to 15 meters (50 feet).

In response to the imminent disaster, the United Nations has mobilized resources, enhancing preparedness measures. Aid agencies have placed rescue aircraft on standby and are amassing humanitarian supplies. “The impact of Batsirai on Madagascar is expected to be considerable,” warned Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN’s humanitarian office OCHA, during a media briefing in Geneva.

Prior to this storm, over 131,000 individuals were affected by Tropical Storm Ana, which claimed at least 58 lives, primarily in Antananarivo. The repercussions of Batsirai could be even graver; the UN’s World Food Programme estimates that it might directly impact around 595,000 people and displace an additional 150,000 due to anticipated landslides and flooding. “We are very nervous,” admitted Pasqualina Di Sirio, head of WFP operations in Madagascar, during a video call from the island.

As the cyclone approaches, search and rescue teams have been alerted, with residents bolstering their homes against the storm. One local, 23-year-old coal seller Tsarafidy Ben Ali, was seen securing corrugated iron sheets atop his house using bags of soil. “The gusts of wind are going to be very strong. That’s why we’re reinforcing the roofs,” he told reporters, expressing his concern over the storm’s severity.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimates that Batsirai poses some level of risk to at least 4.4 million people in Madagascar, adding to the urgency of relief efforts.

Cyclone Batsirai is wreaking havoc in Madagascar with its violent winds and rain, threatening widespread destruction especially after the nation’s recent struggles with Tropical Storm Ana. Rescue and humanitarian efforts are being amplified as residents brace for one of the most significant storms in recent weeks. The extent of the cyclone’s impact remains uncertain, but predictions about its potential devastation paint a grim picture for thousands residing on the island.

Original Source: www.aljazeera.com