Cyclone fears grip Madagascar
2008-02-27 08:28
Antananarivo - The death toll in Madagascar from Cyclone Ivan stood at 60 on Tuesday, with another 17 missing, the government said.
Figures released by the disaster management center also said 147 000 were homeless because of the cyclone that hit February 17 carrying winds of up to 230 kph and torrential rains.
The death toll was expected to rise further as only 85% of affected areas had been assessed, said Jean Marie Stratigos, of the United Nation's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Madagascar.
He noted the island's size - it was the world's fourth-largest island, larger than France or the United Kingdom - and its mountainous terrain. Many parts, especially in the east remained cut off.
Madagascar regularly suffered from cyclones at this time of year and there were fears that global warming might exacerbate the cyclone season. An earlier storm, Cyclone Fame, killed 13 people and last year was the worst season on record - six cyclones killed about 150 people.
Stratigos said the government's preparation ahead of the cyclone season was a "vast improvement" on last year.
- AP