Ferry missing after cyclone

2004-03-09 20:09

Antananarivo - A ferry with 100 people aboard was missing after it was caught in a weekend cyclone between the Indian Ocean islands of Comoros and Madagascar, port authorities said on Tuesday.

The Samson disappeared in Cyclone Gafilo, which tore through northeast Madagascar early on Sunday at a speed of about 235km/h.

There has been no word of the 46m ferry since 19:00 on Sunday, when it was reported about 150km from its destination at the northwestern port of Mahajanga, according to the port captain, who gave his name only as Ralambo.

A fishing boat with nine people aboard was also reported missing at Mahajanga, Ralambo said.

The Samson left the Comoros capital of Moroni on Saturday for a regular crossing to Mahajanga that would normally have taken 30 hours.

There were officially 72 passengers and 18 crew aboard, including Comoros and Madagascar nationals. But shipping officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there may also have been clandestine passengers.

Bad weather has hampered search efforts, which only got underway on Tuesday.

Still gusting at up to 150km/h

Seven people were killed and about 50 000 displaced by Gafilo, which the government is calling the worst cyclone to hit Madagascar in 20 years.

At least 50 000 more had damaged homes, crops or communities.

The worst-affected areas are Antanar, Maroentsetra, Andapa, Mampikoni, and Majunga, already hit by Cyclone Elita last month, humanitarian workers said.

Many roads have been cut off in the north of the country, roofs have been blown off and buildings flooded.

Gafilo was poised to strike the island again on Tuesday in the southwest, an area already crippled by drought. Although weakening, the cyclone is still gusting at up to 150km/h.

Prime minister Jacques Sylla has called on the international community to come to the assistance of his nation.

The World Food Programme and other humanitarian agencies were assessing the situation in the north to see how best to move urgently needed food and other supplies.

"Unfortunately, the worst may still be to come as the cyclone makes a second pass over southern Madagascar," said Mike Huggins, a WFP spokesperson in Johannesburg.

French military transport planes flew 25 fire officers and 20 tons of aid to Madagascar on Tuesday, said the defence ministry in Paris.

The two planes took off from the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion with tents, blankets, water treatment products and canvas sheets, the ministry said.

- AP