ANTANANARIVO, Feb 24, 2008 (AFP) - A cyclone that hit Madagascar earlier this month killed at least 44 people and left nearly 145,000 homeless, according to updated figures released by authorities Sunday.

The numbers are almost twice estimates released Friday of 29 people dead and 70,000 homeless from the category 3 cyclone.

The storm hit 12 of the island's 22 regions, including the rice-producing area of Alaotra Mangoro, 150 kilometres (95 miles) northeast of the capital Antananarivo.

Malagasy authorities have launched an appeal for international assistance to the Indian Ocean nation which is already one of the world's poorest.

With winds gusting up to 230 kilometres an hour, cyclone Ivan struck eastern Madagascar on February 17. It was the most destructive yet of the current cyclone season after Fame, which killed 13 people last month.