Nearly 60 people have tragically lost their lives in Tanzania due to heavy rains and flooding that have devastated several parts of the country since the beginning of April, according to government reports. The coastal region has been particularly hard-hit, with floods causing extensive damage to thousands of farms.
Government spokesperson, Mobhare Matinyi, revealed that the coast region has seen the most severe impacts, resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals. Overall, a total of 58 deaths have been recorded across Tanzania as a result of the flooding.
In a heartbreaking incident, eight schoolchildren lost their lives when their bus plunged into a flooded gorge in the northern part of the country last Friday. The peak of Tanzania’s rainy season in April has been compounded by heavier rainfall than usual this year.
The ramifications of the deluge have also been felt in neighboring Kenya, where at least 13 individuals have lost their lives and an estimated 15,000 people have been displaced as a result of the flooding, as stated by the UN. Weather experts have attributed the intensified rainfall to the El Niño weather phenomenon.
This environmental disaster serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impacts of natural disasters on vulnerable communities in the region. The urgent need for coordinated efforts to provide relief and support to those affected by the flooding is evident as Tanzania and its neighbors grapple with the aftermath of the deadly floods.
