Half-hour downpour sweeps away 21 houses in Tanzania’s Mbeya
Heavy rain in Nzovwe ward, Mbeya city, left 43 households homeless, HabariLeo reported. Regional Commissioner Jumanne Sagini has ordered people in high-risk areas to leave temporarily ahead of forecast El Nino rains.
About 30 minutes of heavy rain swept away 21 houses in Nzovwe ward in Mbeya city, southern Tanzania, HabariLeo reported on Wednesday. The flooding left 43 households homeless. Mbeya Regional Commissioner Jumanne Sagini confirmed that nobody died. After visiting the victims, Sagini ordered residents of high-risk areas to leave at once and stay away temporarily to save their lives. He warned that the damage was a sign of worse to come if the forecast heavy rains continue while people remain in danger zones. He said the government had been warning about El Nino rains, but some people had joked about it instead of taking precautions. "Now we have seen half an hour of rain cause this damage. What if it had rained for seven hours?" he asked. Sagini ordered the regional disaster committee to deliver food and mattresses to affected families quickly. He said some victims are now staying with relatives and neighbours. He added that the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) has started work on risky spots. These include a drain blamed for the flooding after it filled up and overflowed. One victim,…
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