Cyclone Fytia kills at least three and floods homes in Madagascar

At least three people have died and nearly 30,000 people have been affected by flooding after Tropical Cyclone Fytia, Madagascar’s first tropical storm of the season, hit over the weekend. Fytia formed to the north-west of Madagascar over the northern Mozambique Channel on Thursday and was forecast to bring daily rainfall totals of about 150mm where rain is heaviest, creating a risk of flooding and landslides.

Red alerts were issued in regions along the cyclone’s track, mariners were advised to seek shelter, and travel disruption and school closures were expected. According to a provisional report from Madagascar’s national bureau for disaster risk management, at least three people have died and 28,368 people have been affected by flooding.

Fytia moved south-east through northern and central Madagascar on Saturday, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds and rough sea conditions. Average wind speeds of more than 90mph and gusts of up to 130mph were recorded as of Saturday, according to Météo Madagascar. As Fytia continued to move across Madagascar it weakened into a tropical storm, though authorities said disruption would continue this week and more than 40,000 homes could be flooded over the next few days.

Separately, eastern Europe has been extremely cold for much of the winter and is forecast to turn even colder this week.

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