Brace for more flooding, TMA warns as rains kill 15 people

Dar es Salaam. The weatherman has today, April 8, 2024, warned of severe rainfall in 15 regions, including Dar es Salaam, so Tanzanians should prepare for additional flooding in the next several days.

The announcement by the Tanzania Metrological Authority (TMA) comes at a time when the Tanzania police force says from April 1, 2024, to April 7, 2024, a total of 15 people have died in circumstances that are directly linked to the ongoing downpour.

Police spokesperson David Misime said in a statement yesterday that the victims included those swept away by floods, drowned while swimming, attempting to cross overflowing waters or falling into water-filled pits.

Among these individuals, 12 were children and three were adults, Mr Misime said, noting that the incidents occurred in Rukwa, Lindi, Njombe, Coast, Manyara, Geita, Mbeya and Tanga.

On April 1, 2024, an 18-year-old young man was swept away by rainwater as he wanted to cross the bridge at Kalambo District in Rukwa Region.

On the same day, in Kilwa District, Lindi Region, two 12-year-old children drowned after being swept away by rainwater.

On April 2, a 28-year-old man in Ludewa District, Njombe Region, died after being buried by collapsing soil due to heavy rain. In Tanga Region, an 8-year-old child drowned.

In Coast Region, on April 3, 2024, a 10-year-old child drowned while swimming in the Mzinga River in Mkuranga District, and a 12-year-old child drowned in a flooded rice field in Kibaha District.

In Manyara, a 55-year-old woman drowned after falling into a water-filled pit in Babati District.

Additionally, on April 7, 2024, in Kyela District, Mbeya Region, five children aged between 5 and 6 died after drowning in a pool filled with rainwater while swimming. On the same day, two children aged 9 and 14 died after being swept away by rainwater flowing from the mountains while collecting firewood. The incident occurred in the Geita Region.

“Local government leaders, school teachers, and religious leaders should continue to educate our children to be cautious around stagnant or flowing water and not to compete with rainwater as it is dangerous to their lives. Each of us should be vigilant where children are seen playing, passing by, or swimming in hazardous areas,” he said. He said,

“Areas that require warning signs should be marked or covered, such as holes dug for household water wells and other locations.”

Against such a background, the TMA said yesterday that the rains, which started falling on Sunday, April 7, will continue to today (April 9) and further in the month in Tanga, Morogoro, Pwani (including Mafia Isles), Lindi, Mtwara, Kagera, Geita, Mwanza, Mara, Simiyu, Shinyanga, Kigoma, Tabora, Katavi and the region together with Unguja and Pemba Isles, will be hit with heavy rainfalls.

Following the heavy rains projected to continue, the Wami/Ruvu Basin Water Board (WRBRWB) has also issued an alert, saying that most of the said regions expect to continue receiving Masika rains throughout the month of April 2024.

“We request all citizens to take note of this information. Due to the ongoing rainfall, there will be a significant increase in water levels in some areas, especially in rivers and dams. Therefore, citizens should take precautions,” read part of the statement released by WRBWB.

TMA said in its five-day severe weather impact-based forecast that it will continue to release and monitor the weather pattern and urged people to keep following the weather update.

The ongoing rains have already started affecting customers and traders in some Dar es Salam markets, major markets with bad environmental conditions, causing road infrastructure to deteriorate and leading to traffic jams.

A cross-section of traders and customers at Mabibo and Ilala markets who spoke to the paper, Mwananchi, said the environment was not conducive for both of them because it might lead to the outbreak of diseases.

A banana trader at Mabibo Market, Mr Hashim Ally, said that during rainy seasons, the place is not health and environmental friendly because it is full of mud, which reduces the number of customers.

“The practice of renting boots for Sh1000 adds to the costs for customers. It is important for the government to speed up the repair of the market’s infrastructure,” he said. Asia Shabani, a customer at the Mabibo market, said that the mud in the market can lead to customers getting fungal infections.

As for the Ilala Boma road, the drainage channels have been damaged, and water has created large potholes along the roadside.

The situation is similar in the Kariakoo and Mafai areas, where large potholes have been dug out by water.

Agnes Tesha, a resident of Temeke, said that the large potholes in the road infrastructure pose a threat to the lives of citizens.

“When it rains, the roads become potholed, so it is important for the government to take urgent action. Potholes should be fixed so that they do not cause problems for the citizens,” she said.

Kibaha Japhet Sebastian said that it had been raining continuously for two days, from April 5 to 6, Thursday and Friday.

“Saturday and Sunday were drizzly, while today, Monday, there have been periods of rain and sunshine.

These rains have continued to damage road infrastructure, including the road leading to Lulanzi Hospital from Picha ya Ndege Sheli; other roads include Filbert Bayi; and a section of the Msangani military road that is not tarmacked, connecting from Mwendapole to Zahanati Galagaza from Mama Anna Mkapa to Mfipa,” he said.

Last year, the market’s manager, Samson Lugala, said that the Ubungo Municipality had allocated Sh600 million to build the market’s infrastructure.