Torrential rain battered the Androy region last Thursday and Friday. Three districts—Ambovombe, Beloha, and Tsihombe—are currently experiencing flooding. "This is an unprecedented phenomenon. Heavy rain in the middle of August," says Beyndrova Paubert, an Ambovombe resident and current regional director of Communication and Culture for Androy.
In Ambovombe, the "Manara-Penitra" stadium at Andaboly is completely submerged, transformed into a veritable swimming pool. Some residents have even taken advantage of it to do their laundry. Streets remain flooded four days after the rain, making circulation difficult. Houses built with local materials have been damaged, forcing displaced residents to seek shelter in schools. "The city has no drainage channels. It's not accustomed to heavy water. Water stagnates and struggles to flow," Paubert adds.
In Ambovombe district, animals such as cattle and small ruminants were swept away by floodwaters and died. In Beloha, cassava fields are flooded, with this year's production facing near-total loss.
The minister in charge of Livestock, Tiana Randrianomenjanahary, accompanied by local authorities, visited the area to assess damage and evaluate the number of dead and surviving animals. Support measures are being announced for affected livestock farmers. Surviving animals will also receive health monitoring.
According to the regional communication director, last week's heavy rains signal the region's entry into the dry and hot season, locally called "faosa." "This harsh dry season lasts about two months. It will be followed by the season called 'asaramantigne,' October, which marks the end of winter and precedes the rainy season," he explains.
Other sources warn of a bad omen. The next season will be much drier and last for months. Many forecasts have already predicted that the "El Niño" phenomenon will be much more pronounced. This climate phenomenon increases drought risks and disrupts rainfall patterns, posing another threat to food security. Additionally, storing the water currently stagnating in Androy region is not feasible due to lack of adequate infrastructure.