ANTANANARIVO, Feb 14, 2012 (From AFP) - Cyclone Giovanna hit Madagascar on Tuesday, pounding the Indian Ocean island with strong winds and heavy rain and killing at least one person, according to officials.The violent storm tore roofs off houses, damaged buildings and trees, and caused power cuts in the capital, Antananarivo.

The authorities had issued a weather alert Monday, warning that the intense tropical cyclone was headed toward the east coast between the towns of Tamatave and Brickaville around 2:00 am (2300 GMT) and would reach Antananarivo about seven hours later.Violent winds began lashing the capital around 1:00 am, and heavy rains fell until 7:00 am. As the storm approached, officials had warned Antananarivo residents to stay home. The city was just beginning to show signs of life again Tuesday afternoon after slowing to a halt in the morning. Giovanna had already forced Port Louis airport in Mauritius to close Saturday. Cyclone season in Madagascar runs from November to April.In February 2011, Cyclone Bingiza hit the east coast and crossed the north of the country before turning and crossing the south, killing at least 34 people and affecting some 216,000.In 2010, tropical storm Hubert killed at least 83 and affected some 187,000.

PORT LOUIS, February 11, 2012 (From AFP) - Mauritius closed its main airport and port Saturday after meteorological authorities warned that a tropical cyclone was headed towards the small Indian Ocean island. Tropical cyclone Giovanna was approaching Mauritius from the north with wind speeds of 120 kilometres (75 miles) an hour and authorities warned that it could cause damage on the island.In 2007, two people were killed on Mauritius and nine were hurt in neighbouring Reunion when a tropical cyclone hit the islands.

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