Tropical Cyclone Giovanna hits Madagascar

Tropical Cyclone Giovanna formed across the southern India Ocean at the end of last week and gained strength from the very warm ocean waters, becoming a category four storm prior to hitting Madagascar in the early hours of Tuesday.

So far, one person has been killed in Brickaville after an electricity pole fell on her, according to top officials in Antsinanana.

The eye of the storm, around which the strongest winds blow, made landfall south of Tamatave, bringing torrential rain and sustained winds of around 140mph, with even stronger gusts.

The eastern port city bore the brunt of the storm’s arrival, with schools and offices closed as powerful gusts lashed the area.

Authorities cut off power in the capital Antananarivo and ordered businesses to close their doors, as well as warning drivers to stay off the roads.

Madagascar is prone to cyclones that form in the southern Indian Ocean – particularly during the rainy season that lasts from February to May.

Cyclone Ivan is one of the more devastating storms to affect Madagascar in recent years. When Ivan hit in 2008, more than 80 people were killed and over 200,000 people left homeless.

Tropical Cyclone Giovanna is expected to move into the Mozambique Channel later on Tuesday, where it could strengthen slightly before heading for southern Mozambique.

The latest forecast has the storm reaching the southern Mozambique coastline on Saturday, taking heavy rain and strong winds to areas that suffered badly from the affects of intense Tropical Cyclone Funso last month.

As well as heavy rain and strong winds, a storm surge will give an elevated risk of flooding for coastal areas where the storm makes landfall for a second time.

Channel 4 Weather

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