Antananarivo: subjected to intense heat and pollution

During the last few days, the capital city of Madagascar has been subjected to intense heat while its sky is covered by a whitish smoke, especially in the afternoon. During that part of the day, the color of the sun turns to orange and the air becomes almost unbreathable. According to weather specialists, the situation is mainly caused by the pollution of the city and the bushfires that are currently raging in the surrounding localities of Antananarivo.

Due to that atmospheric pollution, a growing number of people in Antananarivo have been reported to have respiratory health problems. Vulnerable category of population like children, poor, and old people are reportedly the most affected by the problems. Dry cough, breathing difficulty, and pain in the lungs are the common symptoms that patients often mention when they see a doctor. Besides, even individuals from the stronger category, including young, well-off and healthy people, report having difficulty breathing these days.

Lack of rain is another cause of the intense heat in the capital. And still according to weather forecasters, the first rains in Antananarivo, already expected since the beginning of last week, will not probably fall before several days, while at the same time in other regions and localities like Tamatave and Vakinakaratra rains have already been pouring down.