Monitoring Desk
KIGALI: The death toll from a severe tropical storm that devastated parts of Madagascar has mounted to 24, with another 21 people missing, local authorities said.
On January 19, Storm Cheneso first made landfall in northeastern Madagascar, dumping heavy rain and causing flash flooding as it gradually moved southwest.
“In all, Cheneso has affected 17 of 22 regions of the island,” Madagascar’s Office for Risk and Disaster Management shared in an update on Friday night.
The number of people affected has soared to 73,377, including at least 35,677 displaced.
Flood devastation in Madagascar
Over 23,600 houses were flooded, and at least 500 others were completely destroyed, the Risk and Disaster Management Office said.
Public infrastructure, including schools, roads, bridges, and health facilities, has also suffered huge damage.
According to the agency, more heavy rainfall is forecast in the east, west, and northwest of Madagascar over the coming days said.
In January 2022, tropical storm Ana killed over 80 people in Malawi, Madagascar, and Mozambique.
