Tropical Cyclone “Ava” causes floods and landslides, leaves 51 dead

Tropical Cyclone "Ava" reached a peak intensity of 167 km/h (103 mph), an equivalent to Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, just hours before it made landfall over Toamasina, Madagascar on January 5, 2018. Heavy rain was falling across northern Madagascar since January 3 and increased with the landfall, producing deadly floods and landslides. 

"On a national scale, the provisional toll is 29 dead, 22 missing, 17 170 displaced and 83 023 affected," the National Bureau for Risk and Catastrophe Management (BNGRC) said in a statement. The number death toll has later increased to 51.

There are no less than 20 000 extensive damage claims.

Among the worst hit areas are the capital Antananarivo, where more than 3 200 people were evacuated from their homes. 

Tropical Cyclone Ava at 13:00 UTC on January 8, 2018. Credit: EUMETSAT/Meteosat

The center of the cyclone has now left the island nation and there are no more alerts in effect.

It was located 835 km (520 miles) SW of Saint-Denis, Reunion as of 09:00 UTC, January 8, and was tracking southward at 13 km/h (8 mph) over the past six hours. Its maximum sustained winds were 74 km/h (46 mph) with gusts to 93 km/h (58 mph). 

Ava is expected to reach a peak intensity of 83 km/h (52 mph) by 09:00 UTC, January 9 and continue tracking southward over the next 12 hours. Extra-tropical transition is expected to begin by 09:00 UTC, January 10 and complete by 09:00, January 11. This will be the end of Ava and its interaction with landmass.

Featured image: Tropical Cyclone "Ava" on January 8, 2018. Credit: NASA Terra/MODIS