Death toll from Mount Hanang landslide rises to 85

Dar es Salaam. The death toll from a recent landslide on Mount Hanang in Manyara Region, Tanzania has risen to 85 after more bodies were recovered today, December 9, 2023.

The devastating event, triggered by heavy rainfall, caused extensive damage and displacement in the affected area.

The government said it was strengthening the provision of social services, especially access to clean and safe water, in order to prevent the outbreak of epidemic diseases.

A press statement issued on Saturday, December 9, 2023, signed by Chief Government Spokesperson Mobhare Matinyi, says the number of people killed by the incident that occurred in the wee hours of December 3, 2023, has now reached 85.

“The death breakdown includes 49 adults (20 male, 29 female) and 36 children (16 male, 20 female),” reads part of the statement.

He said 51 people who were injured during the incident, out of 139, are still hospitalised.

The total injuries include 77 adults (38 male, 39 female) and 62 children (28 male, 34 female).

“A total of 86 wounded individuals have been discharged after recording relief, while two others died. Manyara regional referral hospital has 19 patients; Hanang District Hospital (Tumaini) has 27; and Gendabi Health Centre has five catastrophe victims,” he said.

Mr Matinyi said several 5,000-litre water tanks have been distributed in the streets and villages in order to strengthen the provision of water services and safeguard the lives of citizens.

He said citizens have been provided with clean and safe water, noting that the drilling of a water well capable of producing 120,000 litres per hour was in the final stages.

“Construction of a water station with the capacity of pumping water to Hanang District Hospital (Tumaini), which is located two kilometres away, has been completed. The station will also provide services to Ganana and Dubeta wards,” reads part of the statement.

“The government is also providing education on strengthening public health to citizens. Water treatment drugs have also been distributed to 1,300 households in order to safeguard the health of citizens and prevent them from diarrheal diseases,” reads another part of the statement.

According to Mr Matinyi, the government calls on local and foreign well-wishers to provide construction material assistance to facilitate the early provision of houses to the victims.

He said the National Disaster Committee at the Prime Minister’s Office has opened an electronic account named National Relief Fund-N0. 9921159801 located at the Central Bank (BoT) with a swift code TANZTZTX for resource mobilisation from domestic and foreign well-wishers.

On Friday, he told a press conference that currently 16 kilometres of road in the town of Katesh are being cleaned up, and the roads leading to the areas around the edge of the mountain are being worked on by the Tanzania Rural and Urban Agency (Tarura), the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads), and the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF).

He said the government thanks all Tanzanians who volunteered to help those affected by the disaster.

Deputy minister for Health, Godwin Mollel, said they continue to provide education in camps and unaffected settlements in order to avoid epidemic diseases.

He said so far they have already reached more than 750 households, including distributing water purifiers to avoid such diseases.