At least 41 dead in Madagascar cyclone

CNN 19.05.2002

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (Reuters) -- The death toll from a cyclone that passed over northern Madagascar more than a week ago has risen to 41 and 30 people are still missing, state-owned radio said on Saturday.

Tropical cyclone Kesiny swept over three provinces on the Indian Ocean island nation off southeast Africa, causing extensive damage and flooding the main commercial port, Toamasina, on the east coast.

Radio Madagasikara said 31 people had drowned this week in floodwaters in a Toamasina suburb. Ten other people were reported dead last week by the radio and the National Rescue Council.

In 2000, more than 160 Madagascans were killed and tens of thousands driven from their homes by cyclones Eline and Gloria. Last March, intense tropical cyclone Hary skirted the northeast coastline, center of the island's lucrative vanilla industry.

The weather has added to the confusion on the island of 16 million people, in the grip of a prolonged political crisis.

Marc Ravalomanana, mayor of the capital Antananarivo, was declared president on May 6 following a recount of contested December elections, but veteran ruler Didier Ratsiraka has refused to step down, rebasing himself from the capital to his home region of Toamasina.