In northern Tanzania, the death toll from flash floods and landslides caused by heavy rains has risen to 47, according to local officials on Sunday. Manyara regional commissioner Queen Sendiga reported to Xinhua that the number of injured individuals has reached 85. Rescue operations were ongoing, with a special rescue squad from the Tanzania People’s Defense Forces joining other security organs in the efforts. Sendiga stated that rescue operations would continue throughout the night.
Earlier in the day, Sendiga announced that rescue efforts were underway to help those trapped in landslides on Hanang hills in the Hanang district of the Manyara region. She mentioned Katesh town and the villages of Jorodom, Gendabi, Mogito, and Gedan’gonyi as some of the most affected areas. One village was completely engulfed by mudflow, raising the potential for more casualties.
Gabriel Mbogoni, a senior official from the Geological Survey of Tanzania, revealed that an investigation team was on its way to the area. Sendiga urged the Prime Minister’s Office, security agencies, and the Ministry of Health to swiftly deploy personnel and resources to the Manyara region to enhance relief efforts.
Hanang district in the Manyara region is primarily inhabited by traditional livestock keepers, with a population of about 1.9 million, based on the 2022 population census. The Tanzania Meteorological Authority had issued an advisory in August for the September-December rainfall season, warning that El Nino conditions were likely to influence the season and could lead to devastating consequences, including flooding and disruption of businesses and transport.
