Flooding in Madagascar, a first assessment from Satellite

Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island, and due to its position in the middle of Indian Ocean is regularly hit by cyclones between the months of November and April.

The last tropical cyclone “Ava” hit the island country off the southeastern coast of Africa between the 5th and the 7th of January, killing at least 36 people and forcing more than 20,000 from their homes.

Some of the roads recently flooded in Madagascar. Communications are very often difficult just after the disaster.

Now with the help of the Satellite’s eyes its devastating impact is starting to become clear.

Sentinel-2A animation showing the flooded areas around the Tsiribihina river. Mud water in orange has coloured a large part of the basin.

Copernicus Sentinels images show in fact one the most affected area, the Tsiribihina river basin, in the western part of the country flooded by the heavy rainfall caused by the storm.

Sentinel-1B image acquired the 10th of January. Blue areas are submersed by water.

Both Radar and Optical images aim at helping the local authorities in assessing the area which need the most urgent intervention.

 

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