Bush and forest fires are spreading at an alarming rate. Satellite imagery published on the Facebook page of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development highlights numerous fire hotspots. A total of 3,036 fire points were detected across Madagascar on September 17, compared to 2,407 on September 14. The number of fires located within or around protected areas remains high, with 276 hotspots recorded on September 17, up from 164 three days earlier.
These figures represent a sharp increase compared to September 2025. During the same period last year, only about a thousand fire points were detected. “Fires are seasonal, but the risk of ignition increases when the El Niño phenomenon occurs,” explained a source within the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.
The peak of the fire season, typically observed in October and November, has not yet been reached. “With El Niño, the peak period could be prolonged, and fires could intensify slightly depending on weather conditions. As soon as rain falls, the fires decrease,” the source added.
According to the latest forecasts from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), El Niño could become “very intense” in the coming months. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has placed Madagascar at a level of “very high concern” regarding the risks of drought, flooding, and worsening food insecurity linked to this climate phenomenon.
On the ground, extinguishing fires remains difficult in certain areas. “In three weeks, we have faced four or five bushfires. Some reached villages because the wind was too strong to allow for rapid containment,” stated the gendarmerie of the Sofia region. Residents are severely lacking equipment to fight these fires. However, the Ministry of Environment asserts that a contingency plan against fires is in place.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-22 06:09:15 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/incendie-les-satellites-detectent-plus.html