Thank you for your prayers for Madagascar. We have heard news from various parts of the country.
Madagascar as a whole
Rev. Berthier Lainirina, Provincial Secretary of the Anglican Church of Indian Ocean, reports that Cyclone Batsirai has gone, leaving Madagascar with disasters. It entered Madagascar at Mananjary on the east coast affecting the provinces of Toamasina and Fianarantsoa. High winds and heavy rainfall caused flooding and damage to buildings, roads and bridges in eastern, central and southern regions. Communications, power and water supplies are disrupted in affected areas.
50 000 people have been displaced and 10 deaths counted up to now. Most of the people of those regions found their crops destroyed.
Within the Anglican Diocese of Toamasina, 4 churches were destroyed and some Christians lost their homes. In the Diocese of Fianarantsoa, the cyclone destroyed 45 churches, 6 schools, 13 Pastor’s houses, and one part of the wall of the Cathedral. Again most of the crops are destroyed. These are statistics as of Sunday 6th and might increase once all damages has been evaluated.
Johary, Canon Donné’s eldest son, now lives and works in his birthplace, Anosibe Anala (east of Antananarivo) and reports that there was just a little wind and small amount of rain, and by Saturday night the weather was already clear. He sent a photo of the valley which was badly flooded by Cyclone Ana, which now looks much better:
Within the Diocese of Toliara
Rev. Berthier, living in the Cathedral Complex in Toliara town, tells us that the cyclone has brought helpful rain to Toliara and it is now cooler there.
Bishop Samy was able to go ahead with the confirmation service in St Luke’s, Ankilifaly, Toliara town today.
Canon Donné reports from Fort Dauphin – that the cyclone has not caused much destruction there – just small wind and rain.
Rev. Gaston in Ambovombe says “We are all fine, thank you so much. Here now there is rain and wind but not much. So it is bringing good for us in the Androy region. This rain is good for the crops of Androy, and it helps to increase the underground water levels too. We can also buy water more cheaply now, and some people don’t need to buy water because we can collect water from the roof in the blue water tanks.”
Rev Nolavy in Sakaraha tells us: “There is good rain now, and some strong wind, but no damage yet. It has been raining non-stop since yesterday till today.”