Death toll climbs in Tanzania flood disaster

More than 60 people have now been confirmed dead due to floods in northern Tanzania following torrential rains this weekend.

The country’s Prime Minister explained that the death toll is adding to scores of other deaths caused by extreme weather in East Africa since seasonal rains began in October.

In a national broadcast, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa confirmed that the number of injured stood at 116 people as landslides destroyed half of one village he visited.

“We are here in front of bodies of our fellows. We have lost 63 loved ones. Of the total fellows we lost, 23 are men and 40 are women,” he said during an event to bid farewell to the bodies of those who had died in Hanang district, northern Tanzania.

“My fellow Tanzanians, this is a tragedy,” he said.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan had on Monday put the number of dead at 57 and those injured and receiving treatment at 85.

Tanzania has been struggling with yearly floods that often affect tens of thousands of people.

The region has been hit by floods and landslides in 2023, driven by the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Similar occurrences have been prevalent in Somalia, Kenya, and other East African nations.

The broader impact of the floods linked to the El Niño weather claimed the lives of dozens of people, displacing over 150,000 in Kenya. The situation is dire, with 33 out of 47 counties affected and Makueni being one of the worst-hit areas.

El Niño’s devastating aftermath has also displaced a staggering 1 million Somalis, prompting President Mohamud to emphasize the critical need for swift international cooperation and support.