Eleven people have died due to heavy rains in Madagascar, and warnings have been issued to residents

Madagascar, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, has been hit by severe weather that has left 11 people dead and others injured, due to torrential rains and flash floods that have been lashing the country since late November of last year. These harsh weather conditions have caused significant material and human losses, prompting a mobilization of local authorities and relief agencies.

Details of the losses in the capital and affected areas

Madagascar's National Disaster and Risk Management Agency reported in its latest update that the capital, Antananarivo, was among the areas hardest hit by the recent heavy rains. Official data indicates that the torrential rains directly impacted the lives of 274 people and caused extensive damage to 26 residential buildings, leaving many families homeless.

In light of these developments, authorities issued urgent warnings to residents, urging them to exercise extreme caution. They explicitly called on all families living in traditional, older homes or structurally unsafe buildings to evacuate immediately and move to shelters or safer locations to avoid the risk of these buildings collapsing on their inhabitants due to the waterlogged soil.

Climate context and cyclone season in Madagascar

These events occur within a typical but increasingly severe climate pattern in Madagascar, where the country experiences an annual rainy and cyclone season that usually lasts from November to April. Madagascar is one of the most disaster-prone countries in Africa, regularly facing tropical storms and devastating floods.

Climate experts point out that global climate change has contributed to the increased intensity and frequency of these extreme weather events. In many areas, particularly in the capital's informal and older neighborhoods, the infrastructure suffers from inadequate drainage systems, exacerbating the impact of heavy rainfall and turning it into flash floods that threaten lives and property.

Weather forecasts and future effects

Looking ahead, the Madagascan Meteorological Service anticipates continued atmospheric instability, forecasting heavy rainfall in the northwestern regions and central highlands over the coming days. This forecast presents authorities with additional challenges in securing the population and preventing the humanitarian crisis from worsening, particularly given the potential for landslides in the island's mountainous and steep terrain.