Madagascar prepares for the imminent arrival of Cyclone Batsirai – Réunion l – Réunion 1ère

Madagascar’s turn to face the intense tropical cyclone Batsirai, after Mauritius and Reunion. The system is preparing this Saturday to hit the Big Island with full force, crossing it completely from East to West before coming out to sea in the Mozambique Channel on Sunday afternoon.

Accommodation centers already saturated

Listening to the instructions of the Malagasy authorities, the inhabitants of the East coast are numerous to have left their homes to go to the accommodation centers opened in anticipation of the passage of Batsirai.

Moreover, in the region of Mahanoro, where the cyclone should make landfall first this Saturday, these centers, stormed from the day of Friday, are already all saturated. Sign that the population really expects the worst, underlined this Saturday noon the journalist Ridge Rasolone Draib, correspondent for Réunion La 1ère.

Re(see) this excerpt from the 12:30 p.m. newspaper of Réunion La 1ère:

Rija Rasolondraibe, our correspondent in Madagascar

The army involved

The Malagasy government has never ceased to multiply prevention messages and President Andry Rajoelina has visited several cities in the East to find out about the means committed in anticipation of the passage of Batsirai.

In addition to the establishment of dozens of accommodation centers in each locality, he announced the mobilization of the army to help the population. Also in Manahoro, nearly 200 men and women from civil protection were sent there on Friday.

“Significant damage to fear”

In Manakara, where the effects of Batsirai are already being felt, more than 5,400 inhabitants have taken refuge in the 24 accommodation centers made available. 600 km further north, in Tamatave, more than 2,000 people were welcomed.

First announced at 11 a.m. local time this Saturday, Batsirai’s scheduled arrival was finally announced at 6 p.m. at the earliest, the cyclone having slowed its course. He was 100 km from the east coast of Madagascar, this Saturday at 5 p.m. Météo Madagascar announces average winds of 165 km/h with gusts of up to 230 km/h. “Significant and widespread damage is therefore to be feared“.

Flood risk

The Malagasy meteorological service also fears that the East and South-East coast, as well as the central highlands will be exposed to flooding, due to the heavy rainfall that Batsirai is expected to bring. Waves that can reach up to 12 meters in height are also announced. Nearly thirty regions have been placed on “imminent danger” road alert.