Cyclone Elita was an unusual tropical cyclone that made landfall on
Madagascar three times. Elita developed on January 24 in the Mozambique
Channel. It strengthened to become a tropical cyclone before striking
northwestern Madagascar on January 28. Elita weakened to tropical
depression status while crossing the island, and after exiting into the
southwest Indian Ocean it turned to the west and moved ashore for a
second time on January 31 in eastern Madagascar. After crossing the
island, the cyclone intensified again after reaching the Mozambique
Channel, and Elita turned to the southeast to make its final landfall
on February 3 along southwestern Madagascar. Elita dropped heavy
rainfall of over 200 mm (8 inches), which damaged or destroyed
thousands of houses in Madagascar. Over 50,000 people were left
homeless, primarily in Mahajanga and Toliara provinces. Flooding from
the storm damaged or destroyed more than 450 km2 (170 sq mi) of
agricultural land, including important crops for food. Across the
island, the cyclone caused at least 33 deaths. Elsewhere, the cyclone
brought rainfall and damage to Mozambique and Malawi, while its outer
circulation produced rough seas and strong winds in Seychelles,
Mauritius, and Réunion.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Elita>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1277:
Étienne Tempier, Bishop of Paris, promulgated a Condemnation of 219
philosophical and theologica] propositions that were being discussed at
the University of Paris.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89tienne_Tempier>
1887:
The North Carolina General Assembly established North Carolina State
University , today the largest university in North Carolina, as a land
grant institution.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_State_University>
1968:
Vietnam War: The United States and South Vietnam began Operation Truong
Cong Dinh to sweep the area surrounding the Mekong Delta town of My Tho
to root out Viet Cong forces in the area.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Truong_Cong_Dinh>
1985:
The charity single "We Are the World" by the supergroup USA for Africa
was released, and would go on to sell over 20 million copies.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World>
2009:
Two off-duty soldiers of the British Army's 38 Engineer Regiment were
shot dead by the Real IRA in Antrim town, Northern Ireland.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Massereene_Barracks_shooting>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
phillumenist (n):
A person who collects match-related items, like matchbox labels,
matchboxes, matchbooks, or matchbook covers
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/phillumenist>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
I have gained this by philosophy: that I do without being commanded
what others do only from fear of the law.
--Aristotle
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Aristotle>
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