Cyclone Haruna kills 1 in Madagascar
2013-02-22 21:25
Antananarivo - Tropical cyclone Haruna has hit the large
Indian Ocean island nation of Madagascar, claiming one life and threatening
some 30 southern towns, authorities said.
The cyclone struck Madagascar 15 hours earlier than
expected, having "deviated from its trajectory and landed 50km from the
(south-eastern) town of Morombe at around 06:00", the head of the
forecasting division of the meteorological service, Ndinizara Newsman de
Priscofe, told AFP.
One death had been registered in Morombe, according to
the executive secretary of the National Bureau of Risk and Catastrophe
Management, Raymond Randriatahina.
The cyclone was moving towards the southeast of the
country at 10km/h and strong gusts of wind were attaining speeds of 200km/h,
the weather service said.
About 30 towns in the south of the country were under
threat of violent storms on Friday, Newsman de Priscofe said.
"At this rate, cyclone Haruna should leave
Madagascar on Saturday," he added.
- SAPA
