The Citizen Reporters
Dar es Salaam. At least four people were killed in flash floods that hit many parts of Dar es Salaam yesterday, with the Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) issuing an alert over more heavy rains in coastal areas.
The Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Mr Said Mecky Sadick, confirmed the four deaths after chairing an impromptu regional Peace and Security Council meeting.

Widespread destruction of property and infrastructure was evident in some streets and thousands of people were left homeless when their houses were swept away.

TMA said the rains were caused by the building of pressure over the Indian Ocean, which created heavy clouds along the coastline.  The situation might persist for at least two days.The downpour started at around 3am with thunder and strong winds and led to a power blackout in many parts of the city.Traffic jams were common yesterday morning, with many roads either flooded or partly damaged.

Dead
The RC said at least four people were confirmed dead, including an infant whose body was found at Kwa Mtogole at Tandale. He named the other three  dead people as Ms Dhati Mseti, who was struck by lightning, Mr Mgasa Saidi and  Mrb Abraham Lusama.

Some witnesses reported seeing dead bodies floating in some streams. Reports from Sinza indicated that Mr Lusama, 60, was swept away in the flooded Ng’ombe River.

Mr Sadick named the most affected areas as the Tabata Valley, Mburahati and Tandale. Others included Magomeni Mkwajuni, Jangwani, Mwananyamala and the part of Temeke that is close to the Tazara junction. Meanwhile, the body of an unidentified person was retrieved from a river in Temeke. Police and the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces  had to deploy helicopters to help in the search and rescue mission in some parts of Dar es Salaam.

Mr Sadick said his team was still gathering more information. “We are still assessing the situation,” he said. “We will issue detailed statements after we gather enough reports.”
The RC said, however, that the general picture was serious and appealed to good Samaritans to support families that had lost their loved ones, houses and other properties.

Orders
Mr Sadick reminded Dar residents of the government order to vacate flood-prone areas that was issued a few days ago following a TMA forecast. “We have announced many times that people should not construct houses or stay in valleys, but most of them ignore such directives and this is the result,” he said.

The Kinondoni District Commissioner, Mr Jordan Rugimbana, said his district was the most affected in the region.
Commuter bus drivers, food vendors and other city residents said the situation was so serious that most of them had to suspend their usual activities.  

“We were forced to change the route to Sam Nujoma road after realising that Shekilango road was impassable due to heavy rains, which caused floods everywhere in the area,” said Mr Athuman Rugambwa, a daladala driver who operates between Mwenge and Kariakoo. “We could not differentiate between the road and drainage.”

Ms Anitha Libenti, a food vendor at the Mwenge bus stop, told The Citizen that everything she had prepared, including flour and cereals, was swept by the flood waters.

Speaking to The Citizen after being saved in a Kigogo Mbuyuni valley,  Kigogo resident Margaret Andemile said they were confused on seeing some of their houses collapse. Ms Andemile, who was rescued from Mbuyuni River valley, said her house collapsed at around 4am.

Warning
The TMA Director General, Dr Agness Kijazi, alerted the public that the heavy rains might continue for at least two days. The rains are expected to pound coastal areas such as Pemba and Unguja.  Upcountry regions of Singida and Dodoma in central zone as well as Mbeya and Iringa in the southern highlands also experienced heavy rains yesterday.

Dr Kijazi added: “A cloud, which has formed over the Indian Ocean due to building of pressure, will continue to cause heavy rains in some areas. The situation will last for the next two days.”

Residents of Lindi and Mtwara were also urged to be cautious as the two regions were among areas expected to get heavy rains. Fishermen and marine travellers were urged to be cautious as rough weather was likely.

TMA would continue monitoring the situation, Dr Kijazi said, and alert the public accordingly.
The director of disaster management in the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Joseph Shiyo, said he was on leave and directed this paper to contact Ms Nyachenge Nanai, who declined to comment. “I’m sorry… I think the procedure is known. I cannot comment on the matter, sorry,” she said before hanging up.

Concerns
Recently, the ministry of Health and Social Welfare cautioned that the ongoing rains in most parts of the country could result in an outbreak of epidemics such as cholera.

A statement issued by the ministry said the rains that started last month could also create a breeding environment for mosquitoes and subsequently increase cases of malaria. The statement was signed by the chief medical officer in the ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Deo Mtasiwa.

It mentioned the Lake Victoria zone, the southern highlands and the north-eastern part of the country as areas likely to experience downpours. The contamination of water sources by floods could also cause outbreak of diseases, but the ministry declared that it had taken precautions.

It cited some of the measures as preparedness for disaster management experts from district to national level and ensuring that medicines and medical facilities were readily available. The ministry appealed to the public to report disease outbreaks, use mosquito nets and boil drinking water.

Reported by Florence Mugarula, Frank Aman and Mkinga Mkinga

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