Hanang: This is why more people died upstream

Arusha. More members within single households perished in the deadly Hanang floods near the mountain than further downstream.

This was more pronounced at Katesh, where dwellers domiciled closer to the mountain could have been caught asleep compared to those living in the town centre.

Families at Jarodom village, which is near the source of the stream that delivered the killer floods, were devastated.

Until yesterday, the Sunday morning disaster had claimed 65 lives and 117 injuries in both Katesh town and Gendabi village.

A spot check by The Citizen found at least four families upstream lost between five and seven members of their families at a go.

The scenario somewhat differed in the town centre, where the victims were apparently felled by strong currents at different spots.

While some were found dead at homes in the town centre, others could have met their deaths on the roads, streets, and inside vehicles.

“The impact of the flash floods was more intense at the epic centre upstream,” said Pius Mwashagall, a resident of Jarodom village.

The village borders the Hanang Forest Reserve, which is the source of the streams that delivered the killer waters, boulders, and logs.

He added that the force of the raging waters was much stronger near the water source, felling homes and killing people.

Residents of the area said they heard a loud bang shortly after 5am on Sunday, followed by the deafening noise of cascading water carrying rocks and logs.

“Many people were still asleep there compared to Katesh, which is seven kilometres downstream,” he told The Citizen.

It could have taken some time before the killer floods (and mud) descended on Katesh town, where the disaster struck at day’s break.

Besides deaths, it is in the town centre where much destruction of property, including houses, shops, business kiosks, and vehicles, took place.

Jarodom village on the slopes of Mt Hanang has lately grown, attracting immigrants due to its suitable weather for agriculture.

The families that have perished include the one belonging to a church preacher, Rev Samson, which lost seven members.

Zephania Moghu, who settled there recently, lost three children and two visiting relatives, while one elder called Hassan lost five members in his home.

For Ramadhani Getabak, the deaths were more devastating and brought him bitter memories of the meaning of his surname.

In the Hanang local vernacular, Getabak means ‘a house in mourning’ and that is exactly what happened to an elder.

He lost his son Ghamunga Getabak, the latter’s wife (Ramadhan’s daughter-in-law) and four grandchildren.

Mr Mwashagall said that although he was not knowledgeable about volcanic eruptions, he was happy to hear that experts had been dispatched to the site.

The deaths have thrown Katesh, an important stop-over on the Babati-Singida highway, into mourning, with funerals in all corners.

Yesterday saw the bodies of the identified victims handed over to the families, with some burials taking place instantly.

Although some people have attributed the catastrophe to forest clearing on the mountain, the real cause of the disaster remains a mystery.

Another irony is as to why the disaster struck exactly at two different spots on different sides of the mountain: Katesh and Gendabi, which are 20 km apart.

“We appreciate that the government has decided to send geological experts to the site,” said Josephat Samhenda from Dirma village.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, during his visit to Gendabi village, another critically hit area, blamed environmental degradation on the calamity.