Madagascar: Irina Has Brought 65 Deaths

The same source, Irina, described as "moderate tropical storm" by the Malagasy authorities, was also wounded, three missing and 73,490 homeless. This is the second deadliest storm of the season, with Giovanna's 35 dead, 284 injured and about 250,000 homeless.

Irina has killed at least one person during the weekend in Mozambique. "An old man was killed in Gaza province (southern Mozambique) by a tree that fell on the roof of a house," said Rita Almeida, spokeswoman for the Mozambique National Disaster Agency. The storm continued to move south along the coast of South Africa, said a government spokesman Vernon Mchunu.

In the South African city of Durban, the beaches were banned, the waves reached three meters high, and all boats have been ordered to remain in port, said a city official, Thabo Mofokeng. The storm rages off the coast, is expected to reach coastal areas early Thursday morning, according to meteorologists.

The last big tropical storm to hit South Africa was in January 1984, when Hurricane Domoina had killed 214 people and left more than a billion rand in damage (USD 130 million).

In Madagascar, the hurricane season lasts from November to February and claimed victims every year. Balance sheets are usually slow to reach the authorities, due to communications made difficult. In February 2011, Cyclone Bingiza, came by the east coast, crossed the North and then turn around and cross the south of the island killing at least 34 dead, 11 missing and 216,000 homeless. In 2010, tropical storm Hubert had killed at least 83 people, plus 34 missing and nearly 187,000 damaged.