Cyclone Batsirai Blows Across Indian Ocean Toward Madagascar

A man weighs down the roof of his home with bricks to stop it from flying away during bad weather in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on Feb. 5, 2022. Alexander Joe/AP Photo

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar—The full force of Cyclone Batsirai is forecast to hit Madagascar Saturday evening, according to weather officials.

The cyclone is gaining strength as it blows across the Indian Ocean, with gale-force winds reaching peaks of 235 kilometers (145 miles) per hour, according to the island’s meteorology department.