Tanzania Flash Floods: At Least 47 Killed, 85 Hurt Due To Torrential Rains

Authorities reported that at least 47 individuals were killed following heavy rains and flash floods that hit Tanzania. As of writing, 85 others have been hurt amid the landslides caused by flooding in northern Tanzania, noting that the number of casualties could still increase in the coming days.

Effects of Heavy Rains

Officials said that torrential rains hit the town of Katesh, which is located 300km (186 miles) north of the capital, Dodoma. Meanwhile, many roads in the area had been blocked by mud, water as well as with uprooted trees and stones.

Livestock had also reportedly been swept away. The heavy rains flooded many homes and vehicles were also stuck in thick mud. Massive rains hit near the slopes of Mount Hanang. To ensure the safety of residents, President Samia Hassan has already deployed national security forces to lead and assist in the rescue efforts.

To recall, east Africa has been hit by weeks of torrential rain and flooding. The downpours have displaced more than one million people in Somalia that claimed the lives of hundreds of individuals.

The bad weather also displaced tens of thousands of individuals stressing that climate risks are intensifying in the drought-stricken region.

Previous Rains

Heavy rains had affected northern Tanzania, in particular the Arusha Region, bordering with southern Kenya since late October, causing floods, flash floods and rivers overflow that have resulted casualties and damage.

Based on the media report, ten fatalities, approximately 90 displaced families and a number of damaged houses and bridges across the Arusha District, Arusha Region have been recorded.

The worst affected villages and neighborhoods in Arusha District are Muriet, Terrat, Elerai, Morombo, Lolovono and Ngarenaro. In the next 24 hours during that period, more heavy rainfall with locally very heavy rainfall was forecasted over most parts of the country.

The latest update received from local government that was shared on 13 November indicated that more than 10,090 people or 2,018 households suffered floods and landslide and that a total of 1,245 houses were completely destroyed and 1,074 latrines collapsed.

The said figures likely went up given the difficult access to most of the affected areas due to water levels.

Authorities noted that people in these affected areas have been evacuated to earlier mapped out safer areas. However, they have limited access to basic services.

Heavy rainfall has been affecting northern, western and eastern Tanzania since the middle of October due to the so-termed short rainy season that lasts from October to December causing floods, flash floods, rivers overflow and triggering landslides that have resulted in more casualties and widespread damage.

The worst affected are the Arusha Region in the north bordering with southern Kenya, the Kigoma and Kagera Regions in the west bordering with Rwanda and Burundi and the Coast Region as well as the Zanzibar Island in the east.

Further, Dar es Salaam, the main city of the country, was severely affected.