35 killed by cyclone Chedza in Madagascar

Thirty-five people were killed by cyclone Chedza, which hit Madagascar on Jan.16 and Jan. 17, said the National Disaster Risk Management Office (BNGRC) on Tuesday.

BNGRC Executive Secretary Ludovic Lomotsy told Xinhua that his office temporarily recorded 117,181 people affected by floods due to heavy rainfall.

The regions of Analamanga in the center, Bongolava in the middle west, Menabe in southwest, Atsimo Atsinanana and Vatovavy Fitovinany in the southeast, were the most affected by the rising waters, the water and power cut, roads and landslides as well as collapses of houses.

The southeast region of Madagascar was hardest hit with 52,936 peoples remained homeless.

The minister of National Education Paul Rabary said that 157 public primary schools, 14 colleges and 5 high schools were also damaged after the passage of the cyclone.

The president of National Platform of Rice in Madagascar, Andry Rakotovao, told Xinhua that rice products this year will go down by 15 to 20 percent because many rice fields were damaged by the floods. Madagascar produces around 5 million tons of rice annually and rice is the staple food of Malagasy people.

Cyclone Chedza made landfall at the western part of the country on Jan. 16 afternoon and left Madagascar Jan. 17 by the east coast before weakening at the Indian Ocean, according to Madagascar's meteorological services. Endi