Floods leave 5 dead, almost 14 000 homeless in eastern Tanzania

Prolonged heavy rains caused floods that claimed lives of 5 people and left 13 933 people homeless in four districts of Tanzania's Morogoro region.

According to Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Dr. Steven Kebwe, the rains started in the region on April 10. "The affected districts include Kilosa, Kilombero, Morogoro and Malinyi," Kebwe said.

Ngombo Primary School is closed since April 12 after its buildings were submerged in water.

ZAIDI YA KAYA 350 WILAYANI KILOSA ZIMEATHIRIKA KWA MAFURIKO
Soma hapa..https://t.co/QgSSVrafja pic.twitter.com/SyUSptj5ws

— Habarika2 (@habarika2) April 25, 2016

MAFURIKO YAUA WATANO NA KUWAACHA WENGINE 13,933 BILA MAKAZI MOROGORO
Soma hapa..https://t.co/IPitkdVVlV pic.twitter.com/sBnSC8AMzL

— Habarika2 (@habarika2) April 29, 2016

The downpour has devastated property, crops and roads, making many parts of the region unreachable by roads.

72 hours of rainfall accumulation by 06:00 UTC on April 29, 2016. Credit: NASA/JAXA/Google GPM

“A total of 315 houses have been destroyed, rendering 3 095 homesteads with 13 933 people without roofs over their heads in Kilosa, Kilombero, Morogoro and Malinyi districts,” said Kebwe.

Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) warned that heavy rains will continue to be experienced in the country and urged the general public to take precaution.

Rainfall model for April 30, 2016. Credit: MeteoEarth

Neighboring Kenya is also experiencing prolonged rains. Video below shows swollen Athi River in Nairobi:

No matter how many times authorities repeat this, many deaths worldwide are caused by people driving through floodwaters.

Featured image: Tanzania floods – April 2016. Credit: Habarika2