A major fire devastated a woven plastic bag recycling plant in Amborompotsy Talatamaty yesterday morning. The blaze, which started around 1 a.m., was not fully brought under control until around 5 a.m., with the mobilization of firefighters from ASECNA (the air navigation service provider).

The fire is believed to have started in the courtyard, near a storage area for recently delivered bags. These soiled and highly flammable materials accelerated the spread of the flames, which consumed the storage area. According to initial findings by the gendarmerie, the fire appears to have been accidental, caused by the explosion of an electrical wire connected to the meter, suggesting a short circuit. The possibility of a break-in has been ruled out, as the site is equipped with surveillance cameras, security guards, and a walled perimeter.

The material damage is considerable, estimated at between 70 and 80% of the facilities at this factory, owned by a Chinese investor. In addition to the thousands of bags destroyed, two vehicles parked in the yard, including a van, were completely burned out.

This company plays a crucial role in the local recycling sector, buying used bags by weight for reconditioning. The economic consequences for the company and its suppliers are therefore expected to be significant. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported. An investigation is underway to accurately assess the losses and confirm the cause of the fire.

A series of fires in Antananarivo

This event in Talatamaty is part of a worrying wave of fires that has been hitting Antananarivo since Saturday. The capital has indeed experienced a succession of serious disasters:

1. Saturday: A deliberate bushfire in Analamanga Park, followed in the evening by the burning of four companies in Ankorondrano.
2. Sunday: A hundred houses ravaged in Ankorondrano Andrefana, then another fire in Andohatapenaka in the afternoon.
3. Monday: The home of the late Mama Nenilava in the Lutheran Toby of Ambohibao caught fire (causing the death of a 13-year-old girl), and a house caught fire in Ilanivato during the night.

The frequency and severity of these incidents are fueling anxiety among the residents of Antananarivo.