Hot on the heels of tropical storm Ana, which has killed over 80 people and left 100,000 people homeless in Madagascar, Mozambique and Malawi, is tropical cyclone Batsirai.
It is expected to reach the island of Mauritius on 2 February and Madagascar a few days afterwards.
Right: flooding in Tete Province, Mozambique, caused by tropical storm Ana last week
Tropical storm Ana made landfall on 22 January over Madagascar, strengthening over the Mozambique Channel the next day and reaching Angoche in Mozambique's Nampula Province, on 24 January.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says heavy rain caused havoc over central Mozambique and southern Malawi. Small-scale farmers in northern Mozambique and neighbouring Malawi suffered heavy losses due to flooding. In Mozambique’s Tete Province, vehicles in a government convoy crossing a bridge were washed away last Wednesday, killing three journalists and civil servants.
“In addition,” notes SAWS, “the second tropical system of the season Batsirai is currently situated over the far eastern parts of the South-West Indian Ocean Basin. Batsirai is expected to track westwards towards Mauritius and Reunion islands next week.”
Madagascar’s litchi harvest has concluded, and was therefore not affected by tropical storm Ana which moved over the northeast part of the island. Cyclone Batsirai, however, has the potential to damage litchi orchards and next year’s harvest if it moves over central Madagascar, FreshPlaza is told by a South African litchi exporter.
“There is still much uncertainty about the path of the cyclone at the moment. By Friday its impact on Madagascar’s litchi industry will be clearer.”
In Inhambane Province, where mangos are grown for fresh and dried export, producers had five days of good rain last week with no damage or flooding reported. From Chimoio, in Manica Province, northwards very heavy amounts fell within a short period of time.