Cyclone Batsirai wreaks havoc in Madagascar; see pics

At least 20 people were killed as the cyclone Batsirai wreaked havoc in Madagascar. Hundreds of trees and electricity poles were uprooted and houses were destroyed in several villages. According to the initial assessment, more than 70,000 people have been displaced after the deadly cyclone swept the country. The intense cyclone Batsirai made landfall in Madagascar on Saturday evening. The authorities said that 150,000 people could be displaced by further landslides and overflowing rivers. "The floods and bad weather have not only devastated homes and damaged property, but above all have destroyed the livelihoods and sources of income of the affected families," said Pasqualina Di Sirio, the World Food Programme (WFP) representative in Madagascar. "Affected families, currently in a state of total destitution, will see their living conditions deteriorate in the absence of urgent assistance until their situation returns to normal," he added.