Tropical Cyclone Gafilo is nearing Madagascar and expected to sweep across the northwestern coast of the Indian Ocean island nation on Sunday, the local meteorological office warned on Friday.
”We’ve issued an alert for the whole of northwestern Madagascar, from Tamatave to Diego, because a cyclone has developed and is heading straight for the town of Sambava,” a weather expert said.
Last month, 29 people were killed, 100 injured and 44 000 left homeless by Cyclone Elita, according to figures released by the national rescue council. The government of the large country off Africa’s southeast coast has asked for aid.
”At noon local time [9am GMT], the cyclone was 700km northeast of Sambava. Average wind speed was 130kph, with gusts of 180kph,” the meteorologist said.
Madagascar is usually exposed to cyclones between December and March, but the season can be longer. In May 2003, Cyclone Manou devastated part of the country, killing 70 people on the east coast. — Sapa-AFP