(4 minutes read)
· Cyclone Emnati created havoc in the island nation of Madagascar, adding to the woes of the people who have yet to come out of the impact of the cyclones that had happened earlier
· The landfall of the Cyclone Emnati was in the south-eastern district of Manakara. There are no reports about casualties
· The National Risk Management Office (BNGRC) of Madagascar is closely monitoring the impact of the cyclone and is prepared to address the eventualities of the natural disaster
Cyclone Emnati created havoc in the island nation of Madagascar, adding to the woes of the people who have yet to come out of the impact of the cyclones that had happened earlier. The landfall of the Cyclone Emnati was in the south-eastern district of Manakara. There are no reports about casualties. The National Risk Management Office (BNGRC) of Madagascar is closely monitoring the impact of the cyclone and is prepared to address the eventualities of the natural disaster.
Reports from the meteorological department indicate that the cyclone has weakened in its intensity. The storm which at the time of landfall was about 170 kms per hour has passed through the north of Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Reunion. Meteo-France indicates that the storm still has a speed of around 100 kilometres (60 miles) per hour and gusts of 140 km/h. While predicting that the cyclone would exit Madagascar by a day or so, the meteorological department predicts torrential rains and gusts, which can lead to widespread flooding.
UN agencies are gearing up for rehabilitation works and according to them it might require mobilization of massive aids for meeting health and food requirements. Around 270,000 people were affected due to Cyclone Batsirai, which struck the island on February 5. It had a death toll of 121. Besides, the number of people displaced by the earlier cyclone was 21,000 when tropical storm Ana struck in late January. Another 5,000 were affected last week by tropical storm Dumako. A large number of people were moved to safer places on the island. The rehabilitated people are extremely poor and places where they stay are vulnerable to natural calamities like cyclones.
