At least six people died when Tropical Cyclone Batsirai hit Madagascar on Saturday night, forcing nearly 48,000 people from their homes and facing the risk of flooding.

According to News to the Minute, the head of disaster management in Madagascar, Paolo Emilio Raholinarivo, told the AFP news agency in a text message that six people had died and nearly 48,000 had been displaced, according to a provisional report.

However, Malagasy authorities had earlier said that the cyclone was losing its strength, but the risk of flooding remained.

According to Météo-Madagascar, Batsirai should "appear at sea in the Mozambique Channel, in the northern part of Atsimo Andrefana, in the afternoon or evening."

The inhabitants had prepared themselves to face the situation with the means at their disposal on the island, one of the poorest countries in the world, already hit by a deadly tropical storm in January, Ana, and swept since Friday by continuous wind and rain.

In the eastern coastal town of Vatomandry, a few hours before Batsirai arrived, more than 200 people were crammed into a room in a Chinese-owned concrete building for protection, with families sleeping on mattresses.

A local official, Thierry Louison Leaby, complained about the lack of drinking water, since the supply had been cut off before the storm. "People are cooking with dirty water," he said, fearing an outbreak of diarrhea. "The government has to help us. Nothing has been provided," he added.

Outside, plastic plates and cups collected rainwater from the corrugated iron roofs, often reinforced with heavy sandbags or cans.

World Food Programme (WFP) director for Madagascar, Pasqualina Di Sirio, said she predicted "a major crisis" on the island, where the cyclone could affect more than 600,000 people, including 150,000 displaced people. "We are very nervous," she told reporters via video conference.

Meanwhile, search and rescue teams and aircraft to support a possible humanitarian response have been put on standby and stockpiles of supplies prepared.