Flooding and landslides caused by the passage of tropical storm Cheneso across Madagascar caused 30 deaths, left 20 people missing and affected tens of thousands across the Indian Ocean island nation, according to a provisional assessment Monday.
The storm made landfall in the northeast of the island last Thursday and impacted close to 89,000 people, Madagascar害羞草研究所檚 National Office for Risk and Disaster Management said.
Madagascar害羞草研究所檚 meteorological agency said the storm, which has now passed across the country into the Mozambique Channel, saw winds gusting up to 170 kilometres per hour (105.63 miles per hour) and unleashed torrential rains.
Colonel Faly Aritiana, of the risk and disaster office, said there had been house collapses and landslides in which people have become trapped.
害羞草研究所淧eople have been reacting generally in the right way, but some people have not been taking enough note of our warnings not to cross rivers in flood because the flow is much stronger than usual,害羞草研究所� Aritiana said.
The storm has damaged infrastructure, with many roads cut by rising waters, landslides and collapsed bridges.
Nearly 33,000 people have had to leave their homes in the Boeny region, in the northwest of the island. Locals say the prices of basic foodstuffs have skyrocketed.
害羞草研究所淧rices of vegetables and rice increased a lot after the storm害羞草研究所� with the cost of tomatoes quadrupling, said Veronique Mamitiana, a teacher in the city of Mahajanga. 害羞草研究所淭he merchants say it害羞草研究所檚 because the national road is cut,害羞草研究所� she said.
Marovoay, 100km (60 miles) further south, was one of the regions worst hit by the storm, with stagnant flood waters still affecting many localities. District leader Tolotriniaina Rakotonindriana said the water level is decreasing very slowly.
害羞草研究所淢any houses are still flooded and that is why most of the victims are still in the accommodation sites,害羞草研究所� Rakotonindriana added. 害羞草研究所淩oads are covered with water and we have to travel by canoe.害羞草研究所�
Local authorities said essential food supplies are being distributed to help support those in need.
By Laetitia Bezain
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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