MADAGASCAR: At least 58 people were killed and 167 are missing after a tropical cyclone hit Madagascar twice since last weekend, the state radio reported yesterday.
The radio said that the missing list still included the crew and passengers of a ferry which had 113 people on board when it capsized in mountainous seas. Maritime officials said on Thursday that only two people were believed to have survived the sinking of the Samson. The two, from the neighbouring Comoro Islands, said they believed eight children were among those on board when the ferry sank on its way from the Comoran island of Anjouan to Madagascar.
Cyclone Gafilo has destroyed the homes of more than 120,000 people, the radio said.
"Following the heavy rains which accompanied the cyclone, water levels everywhere are rising dangerously and risk major flooding," the national weather office said.
The Foreign Minister, Mr Marcel Ranjeva, has appealed for international help and his ministry said that humanitarian aid from France, Libya and the United Nations Children's Fund had started to arrive.