KEY POINTS
- Tropical Cyclone Fytia claimed at least seven lives and displaced more than 20,000 residents across Madagascar.
- Extreme weather conditions destroyed over 1,400 homes and submerged 9,000 others following heavy weekend rainfall.
- National disaster agencies report that 54,000 people now require urgent assistance as flooding isolates remote northwestern districts.
Madagascar is facing a humanitarian crisis after Tropical Cyclone Fytia battered the island nation over the weekend. The powerful storm made landfall on Saturday morning with wind gusts reaching 210 km/h. It moved across the country from west to east before exiting via the eastern coast on Sunday. Government authorities confirmed on Monday that the death toll has risen to seven people.
One fatality occurred in the capital city of Antananarivo when a residential home collapsed during intense rains. Another victim remains missing after being swept away by the flooded Mahamavo River in the northwest. In total, 27 districts have reported significant damage to infrastructure and private property. The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management continues to monitor rising water levels.
The scale of the destruction has left more than 54,000 people affected by the storm’s passage. Rescue teams have confirmed that over 1,400 houses were completely leveled by the wind and rain. Additionally, 9,000 properties are currently underwater, forcing over 20,000 citizens to seek temporary shelter in emergency centers. Heavy flooding has particularly devastated the regions of Mahajanga, Marovoay, and Soalala.
In the capital, the aging drainage system struggled to process the record-breaking volume of precipitation. Several neighborhoods in Antananarivo remain submerged, and officials have deployed industrial pumps to clear standing water. There is also growing concern regarding the stability of dikes along the Sisaony river. A breach in these defenses could threaten thousands more homes in the surrounding plains.
Educational and healthcare services have also suffered substantial setbacks from the storm. Preliminary reports indicate that at least 24 classrooms have been damaged or destroyed. Furthermore, some schools are currently serving as evacuation sites for families who lost everything. Access to remote communities remains a primary challenge as high water levels have cut off major roads.
Madagascar remains one of the most vulnerable nations to extreme weather events in Africa. Fytia represents the fifth tropical system to strike the island since the current season began in September. While the core of the cyclone has moved back over the Indian Ocean, the danger is not over. Meteorological services warn that heavy rain will continue in northern and central-western regions this week.
Relief efforts are underway as the government coordinates with international humanitarian partners. A newly established European Union-World Food Program hub is providing food and medicine to those in need. However, officials warn that a significant funding gap could hinder long-term recovery for the most affected districts. Residents are urged to remain cautious as the risk of landslides remains high.
