Landslides and floods in northern Tanzania have claimed the lives of at least 63 people and injured 116 others following intense rainfall.
The disaster, which began Saturday, struck the town of Katesh, situated about 186 miles north of the capital, Dodoma, and has led to the destruction of homes and infrastructure.
The severe weather has resulted in blocked roads, hampering rescue efforts due to mud, water, and displaced trees and stones. The situation remains dire, with concerns that the death toll may rise as some bodies could still be trapped in the mud.
In a video message, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was attending the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, expressed her shock and condolences. She emphasized the government’s commitment to intensify rescue efforts in the affected regions.
These events in Tanzania are part of a broader climatic crisis affecting East Africa. After enduring an unprecedented drought, the region has been subjected to weeks of torrential rains and floods, attributed to the El Nino weather phenomenon. This pattern, originating in the Pacific Ocean, is known for causing global climate fluctuations, leading to drought in some areas and excessive rainfall in others.
The impact of this extends beyond Tanzania, with over a million people displaced in Somalia and hundreds of fatalities reported across East Africa. In Rwanda, similar torrential rains earlier this year resulted in devastating floods and landslides, claiming at least 130 lives.
The Horn of Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with extreme weather events becoming increasingly frequent and intense. This has exacerbated the challenges faced by the region, already grappling with the worst drought in 40 years, affecting Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
In Katesh, around 100 houses were engulfed by landslides, adding to the devastation. The floods and landslides in northern Tanzania are among the worst the nation has seen in recent years, reflecting a growing trend of severe weather patterns across the globe.
