Heavy rainfall in northern Tanzania resulted in devastating landslides and floods, with the death toll rising to 68, confirmed by a regional official on Monday. The calamity occurred in the hillside town of Katesh, situated approximately 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of the capital, Dodoma, over the weekend.
The torrential downpours caused significant destruction, washing away vehicles and collapsing buildings. Distressing images aired on television depicted debris, furniture, and remnants of houses scattered across streets. Vital infrastructure like roads, power lines, and communication networks were severely disrupted.
壯陽藥 — /wp:paragraph –>“By the end of the day, we’ve recorded 68 deaths, and rescue operations are ongoing,” stated Queen Sendiga, the regional commissioner.
During a ceremony in Katesh to hand over the remains of the victims to their families, Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa expressed condolences and foresaw the potential for more casualties. He confirmed that 116 individuals sustained injuries due to the disaster.
Efforts to locate and rescue survivors were underway with military assistance, amid fears that some might be trapped under thick layers of mud.
Local witnesses shared harrowing accounts of the devastation. Paschal Paulo, who worked in the market, described the complete obliteration of the market area, while James Gabriel, also from the market, expressed distress over missing relatives.
Esther Bohay recounted the overwhelming rush of rain turning the streets into mud rivers and her fortunate escape with her family from the calamity.
Reports indicated that nearly 100 houses were engulfed by the mudslide, and an entire village comprising 28 families was demolished.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan decided to cut short her visit to the COP28 climate talks in Dubai in response to the disaster.
The torrential rains and resultant flooding have affected not only Tanzania but also neighboring East African countries like Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. These floods compound the humanitarian crisis in the region, following a severe drought that left millions facing food scarcity.
This calamity echoes similar past occurrences in the region. Between October 1997 and January 1998, widespread flooding caused over 6,000 deaths across five countries.
Scientists emphasize the role of human-induced climate change in intensifying extreme weather events like floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires.