Madagascar: UNCT Flash situation report No 1 - Eric and Fanele, 22 Jan 2009

The following "flash" situational report has been prepared by the OCHA support mission to the Office of the Resident Coordinator in Madagascar. It is largely based on the information provided by the National Office for Disasters and Risks Management (BNGRC) of the Government of Madagascar as well as UN Agencies and NGOs.

SITUATION

TROPICAL STORM "ERIC"

Tropical storm "Eric" descended on the regions of Sofia, Sava, Atsinanana, and Analanjirofo in the north-east of Madagascar at 8 am on 19 January 2009, carrying heavy rain and winds at the speed of up to 95 km/h. Landing in the district of Fenerive-Est, "Eric" edged southwards through the districts of Fenoarivo Atsinanana, Sainte-Marie, Vavatenina, Ambositra, Toamasina I, Antsohihy, Mampikony, and Mandritsara,veering off into the Indian Ocean by 2 pm.

According to the preliminary reports received from regional authorities through BNGRC, approximately 1,000 persons remain homeless with another 1,700 persons impacted to varying degrees by the tropical system. BNGRC reports one person dead and 24 injured

Unconfirmed damage has been reported in the agricultural sector: flooded rice paddies, fallen banana trees, destroyed manioc plantations and other vital crops. Some stretches of national roads have been flooded by swollen rivers, making communication difficult and in some cases suspended. Several public buildings, including schools, have been reported damaged to varying degrees.

CYCLONE "FANELE"

Fanele was a type 4 cyclone, descending on the south-east of Madagascar at 4 am on 21 January 2009. Moving through the district of Morondava, some 50 km south of the town of Morondava, the system brought in winds travelling at 150 km/h, reaching in gusts the speed of 210 km/h. Later that day, "Eric" moved south-east, crossing the regions of Menabe, Atsimo-Andrefana, Haute Matsiatra, and Ihorombe, exiting Madagascar on 22 January at 2 am through the regions of Anosy and Atsimo Atsinanana. The arrival of the cyclone was preceded by heavy rainfall threatening the inhabitants of the town of Morondava and the district of Miandrivazo with the prospect of flooding.

Preliminary reports issued by BNGRC's mobile teams dispatched to the impact areas point to over 9,000 persons displaced in the district of Miandrivazo due to flooding. A number of public buildings in the town of Morondava have suffered varying degrees of damage, including the municipal water system which has been reported down. Homeless persons are being assembled in temporary shelter areas under the supervision of the Malagasy Red Cross.

As rapid assessment missions are being dispatched to the impacted areas, more accurate picture of the extent of damage will become available in the next days.