Powerful cyclone hits Madagascar

A powerful cyclone has hit northern Madagascar, leaving fears that as many as 50,000 people may have been made homeless, emergency officials say.

Cyclone Gafilo made landfall near the city of Antalaha early on Sunday, and has been moving south with winds gusting up to 180km/h (120mph).

Prime Minister Jacques Sylla said the storm had "disastrous consequences" and appealed for international aid.

There are few details of casualties or damage but officials fear the worst.

'Serious' situation

"It's a true national catastrophe... a great shock with disastrous consequences," Mr Sylla told Radio France Internationale.

He said Antalaha was especially hard hit, and "surrounding towns also were completely torn up, flooded".

At a crisis meeting in the capital Antananarivo, Interior Minister General Soja described the situation as "serious".

"At this point, we don't have much information on the damage," Mr Soja said.

A BBC correspondent in Madagascar said there were reports of many ships being wrecked, as the authorities feared it could be one of the worst cyclones the island in the Indian Ocean had experienced.

Madagascar is usually exposed to cyclones between December and March.

Last month 29 people were killed and tens of thousands were made homeless by Cyclone Elita.

Officials said the cyclone was expected to cross the north of the island before heading toward the seas near Mahajanga by Monday.