Cyclone Emnati is expected landfall on Madagascar’s eastern coast late Tuesday. It is believed to be stronger than the other three cyclones that left more than 200 people dead. While most of the deaths occurred on an Indian Ocean island, people also lost their lives in Malawi and Mozambique on the continent.
In January, Tropical Storm Ana struck Madagascar. The Cyclone Batsirai, which killed more than 120 people and left around 143,000 homeless on the island in January, destroyed buildings and roads and forced approximately 143,000 people to flee. Just last week, Cyclone Dumako struck the island.
Emnati is currently moving over the Indian Ocean. According to the U.N. weather station located on Reunion island, which monitors cyclones, Emnati has been given a red alert. Emnati is a strong storm surge and heavy rains cyclone that will batter eastern Madagascar’s Vatomandry, Farafangana and Farafangana areas on Tuesday night.
“We are preparing for a huge one,” Vincent Dalonneau (director of Humanity & Inclusion, Madagascar) said. “This is the strongest cyclone season that I have ever seen since I’ve been here. We are prepared for the storm. Our teams are exhausted and still prepare for multiple emergencies simultaneously.”
According to the UN weather agency, 8-12 more cyclones were expected in Madagascar and the southern African region before the cyclone season closes in May. The agency previously warned of more severe “high-impact tropical storms”, coastal flooding, and heavy rainfall related to climate change.
In 2019, Cyclone Idai/Cyclone Kenneth left massive destruction in Mozambique, and many people died in neighboring countries. The UN weather agency sent a task force there.
