Severe floods leave 58 dead, thousands of households affected in Tanzania

Heavy rainfall affecting Tanzania since the beginning of April, caused severe floods and landslides which resulted in at least 58 fatalities and thousands of households affected. The coastal regions of the country have been particularly hard hit, with devastating impacts on both human lives and agriculture.

According to a government report issued on April 14, the floods have affected more than 10 000 households and damaged over 75 000 farms in the coastal and Morogoro areas, approximately 200 km (124 miles) west of Dar es Salaam. The Morogoro area alone has seen significant agricultural damage, critical for a region that relies heavily on farming for its economy and sustenance.

At least 11 fatalities were reported in the Coast Region, 10 in the Rukwa Region, and 10 in the Arusha Region. In addition, 1 529 people have been displaced in eight evacuation centers, 2 278 people have been rescued, 126 831 people have been affected by floods, and at least 30 houses have been destroyed. The most affected areas are the Coast and Morogoro regions.

On April 13, a tragic incident occurred when a school bus, carrying children, was swept into a flooded gorge in northern Tanzania, resulting in the deaths of eight schoolchildren. A volunteer participating in the rescue operations also died in the aftermath.

The intensity of this year’s seasonal rains is attributed to the El Niño weather phenomenon, which emerged in mid-2023. Meteorologists have warned that El Niño typically elevates global temperatures for one year afterward and alters weather patterns, leading to increased rainfall in some regions while causing droughts in others.

The World Weather Attribution group has noted that the recent rainfall in East Africa is among the most intense ever recorded for the region.

References:

¹ Tanzania floods – DG ECHO – April 16, 2024

² Tanzania heavy rains, floods kill 58 so far in April: govt – AFP – April 14, 2024

Featured image credit: CGTN (stillshot)