Madagascar: Recovery efforts ongoing in southern regions as of April 29 following passage of Tropical Storm Jasmine /update 1

Event

Recovery efforts are ongoing in parts of southern Madagascar following the passage of Tropical Storm Jasmine as of April 29. The storm system made landfall near Toliara in Atsimo-Andrefana Region late April 26 as a moderate tropical storm and weakened to a zone of disturbed weather as it tracked across southern Madagascar late April 26-early April 27 before exiting into the Indian Ocean off Atsimo-Atsinanana Region April 27. The majority of the disruptions reported so far have been in Atsimo-Andrefana Region, near where the storm system made landfall. Due to the storm weakening upon making landfall, other regions did not experience as severe conditions as the storm transited the country; however, it will likely be days before damage assessments are completed and further reports of damage and disruptions in other parts of southern Madagascar may emerge as these are conducted.

As of April 29, reports from the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) have stated that three fatalities occurred in Toliara I District during the passage of the storm, and seven people are missing in Toliara and Morombe districts. The storm has affected 2,246 people from 495 households across Atsimo-Andrefana Region, including 88 displaced persons who are being sheltered in emergency accommodation in Toliara. Five houses have been destroyed and 302 others damaged across five districts in the region. Nearly 7,000 students have been affected by damage to classrooms and a number of roads in the region are inaccessible, including the RN17 between Benenitra and Bezaha. Power outages have been reported in the city of Toliara and Betioky-Atsimo District.

Context

Jasmine is the latest in a series of storms to impact Madagascar since Jan. 2022, including Tropical Storm Ana Jan. 22-25, Tropical Cyclone Batsirai Jan. 27-Feb. 9, Tropical Storm Dumako Feb. 13-16, Tropical Cyclone Emnati Feb. 16-24, and Tropical Cyclone Gombe March 7-10. The storms have resulted in over 200 fatalities and affected hundreds of thousands of people across Madagascar.

Advice

Monitor local media for updates and advisories on weather conditions. Make allowances for possible supply chain disruptions in affected areas. Do not drive on flooded roads. Charge battery-powered devices in case prolonged electricity outages occur.

Use extreme caution in low-lying areas and near streams, creeks, and other waterways due to the potential for flooding. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving or routing shipments through areas where flooding has occurred. Confirm flights before checking out of hotels or driving to the airport; clearing passenger backlogs may take several days in some locations.

Resources

Madagascar General Directorate of Meteorology (French)
Madagascar National Office for Risk and Disaster Management Facebook (BNGRC) (Facebook)