Madagascar and Mozambique – Fatalities Reported After Tropical Storm Ana Triggers Floods

by in Africa, News

More severe flooding has struck in Madagascar after Tropical Storm Ana passed over the country from 22 to 23 January 2022. Two people died in floods in Mozambique after heavy rain in Zambezia Province. Heavy rain and some flooding was also reported in Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Flooding in Antananarivo, Madagascar, January 2021. Screenshot from video provided by BNGRC

Madagascar

The region of Analamanga in Madagascar, including the capital Antananarivo, had already experienced deadly flooding and landslides after heavy rainfall from 17 January. According to the national disaster agency, Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes (BNGRC), 10 people died and hundreds were displaced.

Tropical Storm Ana has since caused further flooding, with around 65,000 people across the 7 regions of Sofia, Diana, Boeny, Atsinanana, Matsiatra Ambony, Analamanga and Alaotra-Mangoro now affected. BNGRC reports that the combined death toll from recent heavy rains has increased to 34 people. As many as 38,985 people have been displaced after 7,237 houses were damaged and 57 destroyed.

Of those displaced, over 37,000 are in Analamanga Region and the capital, where 7,152 homes have been flooded or damaged and 38 destroyed. Over 1,200 people have been disapplied in Alaotra-Mangoro.

A total of 26 people have now died in Analamanga and the capital since the start of the severe weather on 17 January. Seven people have died in Alaotra-Mangoro and 1 in Matsiatra Ambony.

Thousands evacuated their homes in Analamanga Region and the capital Antananarivo in Madagascar, after severe flooding in January 2022. Photo: Ministère de la Défense Nationale de Madagascar

Mozambique

Mozambique’s disaster agency Instituto Nacional de Gestão e Redução do Risco de Desastres (INGD) reported at least 2 people have died in floods after heavy rain from Tropical Storm Ana.

INGD said the storm has been raging in the central and northern regions since 24 January 2022. According to preliminary data, 2 people died and 49 were injured in the province of Zambezia, where the districts of Mocuba and Mocubela were the worst affected. INGD said heavy rainfall brought by the storm had increased levels of the Licungo River to more than 2 metres above alert level, threatening severe flooding in the districts of Namacura and Maganja da Costa in Zambezia Province.

Malawi

In Malawi, thousands of people are facing power and water cuts. Flooding forced Electricity Generation Company (Egenco) to shut down power plants, causing black outs in many parts of the country. Furthermore, the power cuts have affected water pumping stations in Blantyre, leaving residents without drinking water. As of 25 January, flooding was reported in in the city of Blantyre, where traffic was disrupted. The government said schools have been suspended in southern districts.

Local media also reported flooding in Chikwawa, where a bridge was damaged leaving some travellers stranded. As of 25 January search and rescue operation were underway in Chikwawa after flooding had worsened.

“There is urgent need for airlifting evacuation as water levels are still rising due to continued rainfall. Number of people trapped not yet known,” Malawi Red Cross said

Zimbabwe

Some heavy rainfall was reported in Zimbabwe. Nyanga in Manicaland Province recorded 111 mm of rain in 24 hours to 24 January. Local media said the provincial governments of Manicaland and Mashonaland East have taken special precautions by activating district civil protection units, although no evacuations have been ordered as of 25 January.

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