Around forty homes and businesses were destroyed Tuesday in Sakaramy, in Antsiranana-II district. The fire also ravaged nearly 400 hectares of forests and vegetation. With powerful flames, it was a deeply unbalanced struggle.
In the rural commune of Sakaramy, located 20 kilometers from the city of Antsiranana in Antsiranana-II district, fire found a powerful ally in the wind on Tuesday afternoon, transforming what was presumed to be a clandestine activity into a disaster with considerable human, economic, and environmental consequences. Fueled by particularly powerful gusts, the fire spread at such speed that residents had very little time to react. Within hours, around forty homes and businesses were destroyed by fire and nearly four hundred hectares of forests and vegetation went up in smoke. A still provisional toll, to which is added the loss of hundreds of livestock. According to additional explanations from Sakaramy commune mayor Solofonirina Ndrianasolo, the flames also decimated part of the local livestock: more than two hundred chickens and around twenty pigs perished in the fire.
Fortunately, no loss of human life was recorded. But behind this preserved human toll lies a far heavier reality. Consider the case of a young mother that has stirred deep emotion. In the fire, everything intended for her newborns disappeared. "This fire has left nearly three hundred people homeless, now facing a situation of great precarity. The disaster not only destroyed homes, it also severely impacted livestock farmers, whose pastures were entirely consumed by flames, thus compromising cattle feed and their means of subsistence," he added.
The fight against the fire lasted nearly five hours, with the presence of around one hundred elements from the Ankarana Defense and Security Forces. Despite efforts to contain the flames, several fire sources remained active in the evening, raising the risk of a resurgence.
Five hours to contain the inferno. Facing the fury of the flames, the village had practically nothing to defend itself. No fire pump, no fire hose, no adapted equipment, only arms, a few buckets and tree branches improvised as makeshift tools. While fire gained ground, residents desperately attempted to contain the blaze with meager means, at risk to their safety. Just meters from a fire capable of devouring entire homes, men and women shuttled back and forth with buckets of water, in a deeply unbalanced struggle. The absence of Adema firefighters on site did not fail to raise questions and concern among residents.
It took the intervention of civil and military authorities from Diana region, led by Brigadier General Louis Francio Marovavy, to reinforce resources on the ground. Alerted to the scale of the catastrophe, he mobilized large trucks and water tankers, bringing water needed to the "fokonolona" engaged in the fight. A decisive arrival to support residents, until then forced to face alone a fire whose power far exceeded their means.
The extremely rapid progression of the disaster is explained notably by weather conditions. For three days, the Trade Wind or "Varatraza" has been blowing forcefully over Antsiranana.