Thousands force to flee as cyclone batters Madagascar

A man weighs down the roof of his home with bricks to stop it from flying away (Alexander Joe/AP)

Cyclone Batsirai’s torrential winds and rain are hammering Madagascar after landing on the island’s east coast late on Saturday.

An estimated 45,000 people have been displaced from their homes by the tropical storm, the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management said on Sunday.