ZCZC
BFF-32
TANZANIA-FLOOD-DEATH
13 killed, over 15,000 left homeless by flash floods in southern Tanzania:
official
DAR ES SALAAM, Feb 1, 2020 (BSS/XINHUA) – At least 13 people have been
killed and 15,096 others have been left homeless by flash floods that swept
16 villages in Tanzania’s southern district of Kilwa in Lindi region, an
official said on Saturday.
Christopher Ngubiagai, Kilwa district commissioner, said the floods caused
by ongoing torrential rains also damaged tens of hundreds of hectares of
farmland and killed livestock.
“The floods that occurred from Jan. 26 have left people in the 16 villages
in devastating shock,” he told Xinhua in a telephone interview, adding that
the district authorities have created four centers that were sheltering 8,000
people who have been made homeless.
Ngubiagai said the remaining 7,096 people were being accommodated by their
relatives and friends. Kilwa district has a total of 90 villages, he added.
The official appealed to individuals, businessmen and organizations to
donate relief supplies, including food, water, medicines, tents, blankets,
mattresses and clothing to the victims.
He said the Kilwa district authorities were now counting the loss in the
16 villages to establish the exact number of houses that have been demolished
by the floods, the number of destroyed hectares of farms, the number of
killed livestock and damage on the infrastructure, including schools,
dispensaries and roads.
Reports from northwest district of Magu in Mwanza region said 152 people
were left homeless after 89 houses were demolished by floods on Friday.
Safia Jongo, Mwanza region acting police commander said all the victims
were rescued and moved to safer areas.
On Sunday, the Tanzania Meteorological Authority issued its latest weather
outlook warning of looming heavy rains in more than 10 regions across the
east African country.
BSS/XINHUA/FI/ 1724 hrs