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Tropical Cyclone Freddy made landfall Tuesday on the east coast of Madagascar after brushing Mauritius with powerful winds and heavy rain.

The cyclone had wind gusts up to 180 km/h, with waves higher than 15 meters battering the coast. Residents on the eastern coast were seen reinforcing roofs with sandbags to keep them from being blown away. Schools, businesses and public transportation shut down as strong winds and rain hit the island.

Mauritius cancelled flights and closed its stock exchange Monday as the cyclone approached, bringing rainfall and gusty winds. Images and videos showed waves crashing ashore and wind whipping through palm trees. About a quarter of households were without electricity Tuesday morning.

After landfall, Freddy was expected to cross the centre of Madagascar overnight and exit into the Mozambique Channel in the southwest region on Wednesday afternoon. A local agency warned people to stay away from the sea because conditions would worsen due to Freddy-generated waves, and advised the public to maintain precautions and stay in safe places.

About a dozen storms or cyclones occur each year in the southwest Indian Ocean during the November to April season.