AFRICA

MADAGASCAR HIT BY CYCLONE EMNATI

MADAGASCAR HIT BY CYCLONE EMNATI
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Ekeomah Atuonwu

Cyclone Emnati has made landfall on Madagascar’s southeastern coast, ripping roofs off homes and sparking fears of floods in a region recently devastated by another tropical cyclone.

Emnati made landfall in the Manakara Atsimo district early Wednesday, with sustained winds of 135 km/h (84 mph) and gusts as high as 190 km/h (118 mph).

There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries, although at least one southern city reported substantial damage to houses and other structures.

The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management in Madagascar forecasts that the cyclone would affect more than 250,000 people. More than 30,000 individuals have been relocated to safer areas.

The Emnati system had weakened as it moved over the Indian Ocean toward Madagascar, according to the meteorology bureau, but flooding was still expected.

FOURTH CYCLONE

Cyclone Emnati pummelled the eastern coast of Madagascar after passing just north of Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Reunion /AFP/

Six southeast regions are on high alert, the majority of which were already heavily damaged by Cyclone Batsirai earlier this month.

Emnati is projected to pass across Madagascar’s southeastern region before spinning back out to sea, avoiding mainland Africa, where previous cyclones have killed and destroyed people.

Batsirai killed about 120 people and displaced 143,000 people. Over 20,000 homes were destroyed or severely damaged.

In the previous month, four big tropical storms have battered Madagascar, an island off the east coast of Africa known for its animals and pristine natural wonders.

They have already killed approximately 200 people, exacerbating food insecurity.

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Ekeomah Atuonwu