Tropical Storm Hubert kills 36, more than 38,000 homeless, Madagascar disaster officials say

Tropical Storm Hubert kills 36 in Madagascar

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Madagascar’s disaster officials say at least 36 people have died and more than 38,000 were made homeless by Tropical Storm Hubert.

The storm hit the southeast coast of the Indian Ocean island nation on Wednesday.

Officials also said Monday that many rice plantations, roads and homes have been affected or destroyed by flooding. Disaster officials also say that some evacuation teams cannot reach disaster victims because of flooded roads.

Madagascar lies off the southeastern coast of Africa and is in the main storm path of the Indian Ocean basin.

It normally has three or four major cyclones each year. Fame, Ivan and Jokwe killed more than 100 in Madagascar in 2008 and affected 300,000 others.