Authorities in Madagascar announced a night-time curfew in the capital, Antananarivo, on Thursday after demonstrations over recurring power cuts and water shortages escalated into violence, a senior security official said.

Police fired teargas to disperse the thousands of mostly youth protesters who were marching and carrying placards in the capital, according to a witness.

The demonstrators were denouncing the government and demanding restoration of reliable water and electricity across the country.

“There are unfortunately individuals taking advantage of the situation to destroy other people’s property,” General Angelo Ravelonarivo, who heads a joint security body that includes the police and the military, said in a statement he read on privately owned Real TV late on Thursday.

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