Cyclone Fytia's toll in Madagascar rises to 7

The passage of tropical cyclone Fytia has caused the death of seven people and affected more than 54,000 others in Madagascar, Malagasy authorities said on Monday.

ANTANANARIVO, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- The passage of tropical cyclone Fytia has caused the death of seven people and affected more than 54,000 others in Madagascar, Malagasy authorities said on Monday.

Over 1,400 homes were destroyed and more than 9,000 houses flooded, particularly in the northwestern regions and in the capital, Antananarivo, the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management said in its latest bulletin issued Monday morning.

A total of 27 districts were affected by the cyclone, which struck Madagascar from the west Saturday morning before moving out to sea on Sunday via Vatomandry, a city on the east coast.

Meteorological services forecast more rains in the northern and central-western regions over the coming days.■