Cyclone Batsirai has caused widespread destruction on island nation of Madagascar, at least 10 people have been killed nearly 48,000 displaced by the devastating cyclone here. The second major storm in just two weeks made landfall on Madagascar's east coast.

Cyclone Batsirai rips apart villages, killing 10 and displacing 48,000 people

Cyclone storm Batsirai has made landfall on Madagascar's eastern coast leaving behind a trail of destruction.

Cyclone Batsirai hits Madagascar's eastern coast leaving behind a trail of destruction

The full force of Cyclone Batsirai pounded Madagascar's eastern coast with torrential winds and rain on Saturday night.&nbsp;

The center of the tropical storm landed near Mananjary, on the east coast, and moved inland across the island. &nbsp;

The cyclone gained strength as blew across the Indian Ocean, with gale-force winds reaching peaks of 235 kilometers (145 miles) per hour, according to the island's meteorology department. &nbsp;

Batsirai, which means help in the Shona language, is classified as a dangerous storm and officials have warned it could inflict "significant and widespread damage, particularly flooding in the east, the southeast and the central highlands," said the department in a statement. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-winter-storm-over-150000-us-homes-witness-chilly-conditions-sans-power-450849" hreflang="en">After winter storm, over 150,000 US homes witness chilly conditions sans power</a>

As a precaution, 22,000 people have already been evacuated to gymnasiums, schools or churches, especially around Mananjary, on the east coast. &nbsp;

"The wind is getting stronger and there is a lot of rain. The sea is very rough. There are big waves that come down with a lot of force," Capt&nbsp;Ravahalahy Heninjoa, commander of Mananjary's gendarmerie, said on Saturday. &nbsp;

The winds have toppled many trees, and electricity has been cut since Friday night, he said. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-african-icebreaker-begins-expedition-to-search-ernest-shackletons-wrecked-ship-endurance-off-antarctica-450827" hreflang="en">South African icebreaker begins expedition to search Ernest Shackleton’s wrecked ship Endurance off Antarctica</a>

Further inland, Antananarivo, the capital, experienced rains ahead of the cyclone and residents put sandbags on their roofs to protect against the winds. &nbsp;

Anticipating widespread destruction, most land and sea transport has been suspended on Madagascar, the world's fourth-largest island. &nbsp;

"Almost all regions of the island are at risk," the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management said, warning that the cyclone threatens nearly 600,000 of the island's 28 million people.

The full force of Cyclone Batsirai pounded Madagascar's eastern coast with torrential winds and rain on Saturday night. The center of the tropical storm landed near Mananjary, on the east coast, and moved inland across the island.

The full force of Cyclone Batsirai pounded Madagascar's eastern coast with torrential winds and rain on Saturday night. The center of the tropical storm landed near Mananjary, on the east coast, and moved inland across the island. The cyclone gained strength as blew across the Indian Ocean, with gale-force winds reaching peaks of 235 kilometers (145 miles) per hour, according to the island's meteorology department. Batsirai, which means help in the Shona language, is classified as a dangerous storm and officials have warned it could inflict "significant and widespread damage, particularly flooding in the east, the southeast and the central highlands," said the department in a statement. Also Read: After winter storm, over 150,000 US homes witness chilly conditions sans power As a precaution, 22,000 people have already been evacuated to gymnasiums, schools or churches, especially around Mananjary, on the east coast. "The wind is getting stronger and there is a lot of rain. The sea is very rough. There are big waves that come down with a lot of force," Capt Ravahalahy Heninjoa, commander of Mananjary's gendarmerie, said on Saturday. The winds have toppled many trees, and electricity has been cut since Friday night, he said. Also Read: South African icebreaker begins expedition to search Ernest Shackleton’s wrecked ship Endurance off Antarctica Further inland, Antananarivo, the capital, experienced rains ahead of the cyclone and residents put sandbags on their roofs to protect against the winds. Anticipating widespread destruction, most land and sea transport has been suspended on Madagascar, the world's fourth-largest island. "Almost all regions of the island are at risk," the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management said, warning that the cyclone threatens nearly 600,000 of the island's 28 million people.

Cyclone Batsirai's high winds and rain pound Madagascar

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