The toll from Cyclone Gamane’s unexpected path toward Madagascar has risen to 18 fatalities, with thousands displaced and homes washed away, officials reported Friday.
The cyclone, initially forecasted to bypass the Indian Ocean island, made an unforeseen landfall in the north on Wednesday, unleashing high winds and torrents of water that devastated villages.
According to the latest data from the national risk and disaster management office (BNRGC), 20,737 individuals have been displaced, with 5,371 households affected by the disaster.
Authorities indicated that some victims drowned, while others perished under collapsed structures or falling trees, marking a significant increase from the previously reported death toll of 11.
“We have nothing to eat due to the floods. Additionally, our children are falling ill from the contaminated water,” lamented Pasy, a resident of the northeastern Sava region, appealing for assistance amidst the inundation.
As floodwaters surged, locals helped one another navigate through the deluge, salvaging what remained of their possessions.
Numerous roads and bridges became impassable due to flooding, exacerbating the crisis for affected communities.
“We haven’t eaten yet. All our coal stocks are flooded and the sacks of rice are washed away. We don’t know what to do,” shopkeeper Fregin said.
The slow-moving nature of Cyclone Gamane intensified its impact, causing widespread devastation and infrastructure damage.
“It’s rare to have a cyclone like this. Its movement is nearly stationary,” Elack Andriakaja, director general of the BNRGC, told media on Thursday.
As Cyclone Gamane was reclassified as a tropical storm, meteorologists anticipated its departure from the island by Friday afternoon.
The cyclone season in the southwestern Indian Ocean typically spans from November to April, with approximately a dozen storms occurring each year.