Over 2,300 Tanzania’s Kwimba district residents lose property to downpour
Kwimba District Commissioner Mtemi Msafiri told The Citizen on Tuesday over telephone that the verification exercise was going on to identify more houses that were destroyed.
What you need to know:
- Thirteen people including students were injured during the storm and were receiving treatment at Ngundu District Hospital.
Kwimba. At least 2,375 people from different villages in Kwimba District have been left homeless and many others injured after a downpour destroyed their homes on Tuesday, October 10.
Thirteen people including students were injured during the storm and were receiving treatment at Ngundu District Hospital.
But one of the injured, Shida Lufuta, 10, a Class Five pupil at Mangurumwa Primary School was rushed to Bugando Referral Hospital in Mwanza City after sustaining serious injuries.
Others who were injured during the rain include Shani Shija, Mashara Juma, Angeline Pastory, all being Class Five pupils at Mangurumwa Primary School.
Mr Mpemba Lufuga, 72, also sustained injuries. Villages where more houses were destroyed include Mangurumwa (302), Lioma (29), Iramba (24), Budula (31), Kakola (19), Ngudu Rugulu (19), Igoma (4), Ngumo (1), Shigumulo (3), Njiguji (4), Chanela (19), and, Nyaniga (4).
Two classrooms at Mangurumwa Primary School and a library at Igongwa Secondary School were also destroyed by the storm.
Kwimba District Commissioner Mtemi Msafiri told The Citizen on Tuesday over telephone that the verification exercise was going on to identify more houses that were destroyed.
“The security committee here is going on with the verification exercise to identify more people who their houses were destroyed,” he said
Mr Mtemi noted that the downpour was accompanied with hailstones and strong wind.
He says that efforts to rescue the victims were futile following the downpour that was accompanied by strong winds and hailstones.
But he said that he has directed engineers from the council to do verification and identify infrastructures that were destroyed.
He warned the residents from cutting down trees that protect strong winds.
“Most of the houses that have been destroyed by the storm were constructed on bare land where there are no trees that can act as barriers against strong winds,” he said.
The DC has called upon well-wishers, businesspersons and institutions to support the victims with food and tenant for temporary shelter.
He has also urged those building their houses to adhere to recommendations by experts to put up stronger structures that are able to withstand such natural disasters.
One of the victims, Neema Charles noted that the rain begun falling at 4am that was accompanied with heavy storm and that they did not manage to rescue their properties.
