Madagascar's Rivers, Lakes and Beaches:
Between drowning tragedies, ancient taboos and the call for caution

[Numerous drowning incidents reported between 2022 and 2026 illustrate how widespread the problem remains.]

The latest tragedy occurred on 20 July 2026 in Kimony, near Morondava, on Madagascar's west coast. Two brothers, aged 20 and 32, both on holiday from Antananarivo, disappeared beneath the waves while swimming. The accident quickly spread across national media and social networks, shocking the country.

Sadly, the Kimony tragedy is far from an isolated incident. Year after year, similar stories emerge from different parts of Madagascar. Rivers, lakes and beaches repeatedly claim lives, prompting the same questions: Why do these places seem so dangerous? Are these merely natural phenomena explained by science, or do traditional beliefs contain lessons that deserve greater attention?

Waters surrounded by mystery

Across Madagascar, many bodies of water have acquired reputations that extend far beyond their physical characteristics. Local communities often describe certain rivers, lakes and coastal areas as places that "take a life every year." Whenever another drowning occurs, people sometimes remark, "This year, the water has claimed its victim." Such expressions are deeply rooted in Malagasy oral tradition. Rather than being simple superstition, they reflect generations of collective memory, local observation and cultural identity.

One of the best-known examples is Lake Alaotra, Madagascar's largest lake. According to local traditions, the lake is inhabited by lolondrano — mythical water spirits, sometimes believed to be the souls of people who drowned there. These spirits are said to lure victims beneath the surface.

Elsewhere, certain beaches, river mouths and coastal areas are believed to be protected by ancestral spirits or considered hostile to strangers unfamiliar with local customs. Whether interpreted literally or symbolically, these stories continue to influence how many Malagasy communities perceive the water.

The importance of fady

Traditional taboos, known as fady, remain an important aspect of daily life throughout Madagascar. They vary from one region to another and regulate behaviors ranging from food consumption to access to sacred places. Following the Morondava tragedy, local authorities reminded visitors to respect customs associated with the sea and announced awareness campaigns aimed at informing holidaymakers about local traditions.

Some coastal communities prohibit swimming after eating pork. Others discourage entering the water during particular traditional ceremonies, at certain hours, or under specific weather conditions. To outsiders, these rules may seem unusual.

Yet many researchers and anthropologists note that some traditional prohibitions may have developed from generations of careful observation. Long before modern oceanography or warning signs existed, local communities learned to recognize dangerous tides, hidden currents, rocky sea beds and rapidly changing weather. In that sense, some fady may serve not only spiritual purposes but also practical safety functions.

A long list

Numerous drowning incidents reported between 2022 and 2026 illustrate how widespread the problem remains.

In Manakara, on 31 July 2022, five young women enjoying their holidays were swept away by a powerful wave while playing near the shoreline. Only two survived. The same coastline is also remembered for another tragedy in 2016 involving a foreign tourist couple who drowned near the mouth of the Manakarabe River. Local tradition holds that eating pork before swimming there is forbidden. Although no scientific evidence links the meal itself to the accident, the story continues to reinforce the area's cultural warnings.

The east coast city of Toamasina has experienced several fatal accidents as well. In August 2023, two young people aged 16 and 21 drowned near the casuarina trees at Ampanalana Beach. In February 2024, a 32-year-old father and his 12-year-old daughter lost their lives after their small boat capsized in a canal at Ambodisaina. Later that year, in December 2024, two 12-year-old boys were swept away while swimming near a hotel beach. Only one survived.

On Madagascar's northwestern coast, Antsanitia Beach near Mahajanga witnessed one of the country's most heartbreaking accidents. On 24 April 2025, five high school students from Manjakandriana died during an educational trip. One student was caught by a wave. Four classmates instinctively jumped into the water to rescue her. None returned alive. Then, in February 2026, another tragedy struck Mahajanga when a 19-year-old tourist drowned after entering a prohibited swimming area near the port.

Even Madagascar's central highlands are not immune. On 17 February 2026, an 18-year-old student drowned in the Ikopa River at Bemasoandro-Itaosy, a river where local residents say fatal accidents occur almost every year.

Science behind the danger

Although legends capture public imagination, scientists point to well-understood physical processes that make many Malagasy waters particularly hazardous. Ocean currents can change within minutes. Rip currents — powerful channels of water flowing away from shore — can rapidly pull swimmers far from the beach. River mouths are especially unpredictable because freshwater and seawater interact, producing complex currents beneath the surface.

Large waves can arrive unexpectedly, even when the sea initially appears calm. In rivers, underwater holes, sudden depth changes, submerged rocks and strong seasonal flows create additional hazards. During the rainy season, rivers may rise dramatically within hours, while lake conditions can deteriorate rapidly under strong winds.