A severe tropical storm that devastated parts of Madagascar this week will continue to wreak havoc on the country as it strengthens over the weekend, the United Nations’ regional weather monitoring service said.
The storm has killed 8 people and ten are still missing, according to Madagascar’s National Office for Risk and Disaster Management. It has displaced more than 60,000 people and damaged 13,000 houses in northern and central Madagascar.
An alert issued by local authorities on Friday warned of heavy rains in the center and west of the country with imminent risk of flooding and landslides. Flash flooding is expected in the western coastal town of Morombe, raising fears of further destruction and displacement.
Over the next few days, Cheneso could dump in some areas of Madagascar more than 200% of the average rainfall for January, the UK weather office has warned.
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Severe Tropical Storm Cheneso is starting to worsen in parts of Madagascar. There have been warnings of more flooding, mudslides and heavy rain.
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Storm Cheneso, currently classified as a severe tropical storm, is expected to be upgraded to a cyclone by the UN regional weather center. The weather system is also likely to move in a southeasterly direction and away from inhabited land, but forecasters remain cautious.
“Cyclones can change direction at any time depending on wind direction and other prevailing conditions. That’s why watches are issued with caution,” said Evans Mukolwe, a retired meteorologist. “You can alter course at any time.”
Storm Cheneseo made its first landfall as a moderate storm nine days ago in the Sava region of north-eastern Madagascar. Cheneso weakened as it stagnated in the country for much of the week and is now strengthening.
Cyclones are typical in southern Africa from December to March, but scientists say climate change has made the storms wetter, more frequent and more intense.
