Authorities in Madagascar have reported that at least ten people have died after heavy rains in the Analamanga Region, including the capital Antananarivo, rendering over 500 people homeless.

According to reports, most of the victims were trapped in landslides or collapsed houses, especially in the deprived neighborhoods of the suburbs of Antananarivo, which has nearly 1.3 million inhabitants.

There was widespread damage in the capital and surrounding areas, including collapsed houses and bridges, damaged infrastructure and inundated farmland.

According to the national disaster agency, Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes (BNGRC), heavy rain struck during the night of 17^th January 2022. Antananarivo recorded over 75mm of rain in 24 hours to 18^th January 2022.

Spokeswoman of the Office of Risk Management and Disaster (BNGRC) of the Ministry of Interior, Sonia Ray said on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 that more than 100 mm of water fell during the night from Monday to Tuesday, warning that “the worst is yet to come in the next 24 hours”. She added that more rains are expected throughout January this year.

Fatalities were reported from Ambohimangakely (3), Alasora (1), Nanisana (2) Manjakaray (2), Ambodempona (1) and Ambohidroa (1). Teams from the BNGRC and the fire service carried out emergency rescues which found two other people injured.

More rains expected in coming days

Madagascar’s Ministry of Water issued red alert warnings due to high levels of the Sisaony river, which jumped 68 cm in half an hour to reach 2.09 metres at the Andramasina station. Levels of the Ikopa and Mamba rivers are also high.

According to forecasts, the Indian Ocean island will be hit by heavy rainfall in the coming days, with an even higher peak expected on Thursday, January 20, 2022.

“We expect a cyclone at the end of the week on the east coast”, Lovandrainy Ratovoharisoa, a forecaster at the General Directorate of Meteorology told reporters.

Images of many Malagasy in the streets, with thigh-high muddy water, were shared on social networks. Some remained perched on walls. Others were walking along with a child on their back and bags on their stomach.

The rains continued throughout the afternoon of Tuesday, January 18, 2022. The low-lying sky was occasionally torn apart by violent thunderclaps. Reports say the rainfall has been concentrated so far on the northern half of the island and the likelihood of it moving down to the south is high.

Twenty municipalities around the capital have been placed on red alert against an “imminent danger”. Firemen and civil protection are mobilized to vacate the zones at risk. Gymnasiums have been requisitioned and the government is studying the possibility of closing schools this week, according to reports.

“Floods are common in Madagascar, especially in the rainy season between October and April. But yesterday they were exceptionally heavy”, Ratovoharisoa said.

Madagascar, one of the poorest countries in the world, also regularly experiences cyclones or other tropical storms. Each year, the tropical country faces a period of intense and often deadly rains. In January 2020, heavy rains resulted in the death of about 32 people with thousands of people displaced.

In 2018, Cyclone Ava killed 51 people and left 22 missing. Two months later, tropical storm Eliakim had killed 20 people and left nearly 19,000 affected.