Nearly 50 people have been killed in Tanzania following the upsurge of environmental floods that have been sweeping over ten regions of the mainland, whose waters have also destroyed 1500 livestock.
Government spokesperson, Mobhare Matinyi stated here that Morogoro, one of the most affected regions has recorded over 28 deaths so far.
On the other hand, five more people lost their lives in Pwani Region, along the Indian Ocean coastline, where floods have totally submerged an entire village and several other settlements.
Rufiji District Commissioner, Major Edward Gowele said that 12 out of the 13 wards in Rufiji, have been affected by the floods, where some 23,000 households were submerged.
At least 88,000 persons in the district are also in need of essential services such as shelter, food and healthcare.
“In addition to homes being destroyed by the floods, approximately 33,930.24 hectares of crops have been submerged,” Major Gowele stated.
Earlier on the Police in Tanzania reported 15 deaths arising from heavy rains and related flooding incidences in various areas of the country.
Children were seen to be more susceptible to being washed away by the waters.
So far the most affected regions on the mainland Tanzania remain Pwani, precisely its Rufiji District and Morogoro, essentially around Kilombero District.
Floods have also been causing havoc in Lindi, Tanga, Mbeya, Rukwa, Njombe, Arusha, and Manyara regions as rains continue to pound most parts of East Africa.
In the Kisongo section of Arusha-Rural District, floods destroyed 157 houses and swept away at least five vehicles in addition to submerging farms and roads.
Local residents believe that huge waves of water packed with logs and debris were flowing downstream from the foot of Mount Meru, where rains pounded even harder.
The heavy El-Nino rains that started to be experienced in October 2023 are reported to be the cause of ongoing disasters.
But from mid-March 2024, the long-rain season also ushered in, thus developing into double precipitations that are now causing destruction across Tanzania as well as other neighboring countries, including Kenya, Uganda and DR Congo.
The Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) on the other hand has issued warning that more and heavy trains should be expected throughout April and possibly May, therefore people need to take heed.
Other than causing human deaths, recent floods have annihilated more than 1500 livestock, mostly cattle, destroyed thousands of acres of farmed land as well as demolishing around 1050 houses.
In December 2023 massive avalanche from Mount Hanang, in Manyara Region, killed more than 65 people around the Katesh Township and destroyed farms, households and business entities.
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