Do’s and don’ts as rains pound Dar
People walk on a flooded section of Morogoro Road, which was closed to traffic following several days of heavy rain in Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Crossing flooded areas and swollen rivers on foot or by car must be avoided as doing so is risky.
Dar es Salaam. With the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) having forecast four more consecutive days of heavy rain in Dar es Salaam and other regions, experts and local government authorities have outlined measures that can keep people safe.
Those who spoke to The Citizen yesterday said it was time people embarked on a preventive approach along the lines of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Traffic jams, they added, should be avoided and city residents should work from home if possible.
Crossing flooded areas and swollen rivers on foot or by car must be avoided as doing so is risky.
“We should also heed forecasts released by the weatherman. Parents need to digest the information and use it keep their children safe from dangers associated with heavy rains,” said Dr Leah Omar of the Institute of Social Work (ISW) in Dar es Salaam.
She added that people should stay at home unless it was “absolutely necessary” to go out.
“Those who can afford it should ensure that they have enough stocks of foods and other essential items to avoid frequent trips to shops and markets,” Dr Omar said.
She added that people should consider working from home to stay safe and avoid the possibility of being held up in traffic queues during foul weather.
A public health expert from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (Muhas), Prof Deodatus Kakoko, said information from the Health ministry should be taken seriously.
Children should be warned against playing on riverbanks, which tend to collapse during heavy rains.
Trying to cross partially submerged bridges was also be dangerous, Dr Kakoko said.
“Don’t try to cross such bridges either on foot or by any means of transport as there is a high possibility that you could be swept away.”
The chairman of Mshikamano Street in Ubungo Municipality, Mr Baraka Mwijande, said parents should prevent children from playing in valleys and canals to avoid the possibility of drowning.
Drinking water must be boiled for those who cannot afford bottled water and extra care should also be taken to ensure safety around homes.
“During this period, burglars usually take advantage of the noise of rain pounding on roofs to break into people’s homes and steal. As such, lights must be turned on for security purposes during the rainy period,” Mr Mwijande said.
An environmental expert from the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Prof Pius Yanda, said: “We are living in a society whereby some people don’t have a plan B and the culture of socialisation is now at a minimum. Every family wants to stay with their children only. Also, the important thing is to look at how to avoid further harm because even if you tell people who reside in flood-prone areas to relocate, where do they move to? If you give them land, is that the only solution?”
TMA has announced that there will be another heavy rain from November 15 to 18 this year which may cause serious consequences such as floods, deaths, transport effects, and some roads being impassable.
According to TMA, areas expected to be hit by strong winds of up to 40 kilometres per hour include Tanga, Morogoro, Coast, Mafia Islands, Lindi, Pemba and Unguja.
