Madagascar cyclone kills 69

Updated 11.10 Fri Mar 23 2007
Keywords: Cyclone

A cyclone has killed at least 69 people and made thousands homeless in Madagascar.

"I have never seen so much damage," said Jacky Randimbiarison, executive secretary of the government's disaster management agency.

The storm wiped out 3,619 houses, plus dozens of government buildings, schools and bridges

The agency confirmed cyclone Indlala had caused 69 deaths, with two other people missing.

The storm wiped out 3,619 houses, plus dozens of government buildings, schools and bridges. It also destroyed 8,280 hectares of paddy-fields.

In northern Ambanja district, "a whole mountain has collapsed, burying two villages under thousands of tonnes of rock and killing 20 people including six children in a school," Mr Randimbiarison said.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has appealed for £325,000 to help Madagascar.

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