from ALLOYCE KIMBUNGA in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
Tanzania Bureau
DAR-ES-SALAAM, (CAJ News) – RELENTLESS rainfall has left at least 63 people dead in northern Tanzania.
Since this past Saturday, rains particularly in the Manyara region have caused floods and triggered landslides.
Humanitarian agencies have forecast the number of casualties and damage to increase.
As of Tuesday, 116 people have been injured and two people are still missing in Hanang district.
A total of 5 600 people have been affected. In addition, 1 150 houses have been damaged and more that 300 hectares of farmland have been destroyed.
Communication networks and several roads are still blocked.
More rainfall is still forecast over the whole country in the coming days.
The extreme weather is blamed on climate change, with Tanzania located in a region that is also emerging from the worst drought in decades.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed that the government pay for the funerals of the deceased, the treatment of all injured and provide permanent housing to all those who lost their homes.
“All our government units and institutions related to the disaster are present at the scene and work day and night to ensure that the situation returns to normal,” the president said. –
CAJ News