ANTANANARIVO, Feb 1, 2008 (AFP) - Twelve people died in Madagascar after cyclone Fame tore through the western portion of the island, according to a death toll released Friday by the island authorities.

The cyclone, which struck Sunday, left another 1,450 people homeless, with 5,024 inhabitants of the island tallied as having been affected somehow by the disaster.

Most of the victims came from rural areas -- killed by falling trees, collapsing houses, or by drowning, said Colonel Jean Rakotomalala, executive secretary of a government disaster management branch.

In total, Fame hit six regions to the west of the country.

'While the cyclone came in with quite an incredible force, the small number of deaths shows that training sessions at all levels have borne their fruit,' the colonel told AFP.

Fame is the first cyclone to wreak havoc in Madagascar since the beginning of the season two months ago. Last year, cyclone Indlala left 150 dead and 30 missing. In March 2004, cyclone Gafilo killed 241 people on the island.