DEATH TOLL RISES AS TORRENTIAL RAINS HIT DAR ES SALAAM
(Posted 14th April 2014)
Ongoing torrential rains have caused extensive flooding in Tanzania’s commercial capital of Dar es Salaam in recent days, likely to be worse than the 2011 situation which was the worst ever recorded in living memory.
Reports from Dar speak of as many as 10 people who either drowned, were swept away in their cars when trying to drive through sections of roads turned into raging rivers or else were killed when houses and trees collapsed on them.
The weather forecasts are not favourable either as several more days of equally torrential rain have been predicted, which is likely to have a severe impact on the Monday morning commuter traffic into the city, transfers to and from the international airport but also the ferry services which connect Dar es Salaam with the main Zanzibari island of Unguja. The storm caused extra high tides with waves coming on to shore reportedly rising to as high as 2 metres, effectively causing a suspension of fishing activities which will impact on the food supply for the city where many residents are used to having fish on their daily menu. High windspeeds are said to make the situation worse and relief may only come by midweek, unless another bad weather front would be moving in from the Indian Ocean.
Pictures seen on line yesterday showed houses submerged to the roof, other houses collapse in heaps of bricks, wood and roofing material while roads were shown looking like rivers, making them impassable.
Bridges along some of the coastal roads, connecting Dar es Salaam with for instance Bagamoyo, another coastal town north of Dar, were swept away as rivers burst their banks and washed away foundations, leaving yet more people stranded. It was learned that the Tanzanian government had put a joint operation task force into place which includes army units drafted in to help in evacuating people stranded to safety, help restore road links and clear debris and provide medical support to those injured or exhausted by the cold and wet weather conditions.
Electricity outages were said to be widespread and water pipes in parts of the city reported broken, leaving thousands of people without power nor fresh water, increasing the risk of disease. Phone landlines too were according to one source out of order, likely as a result of flooding.
Resorts along the coast and on the islands of Zanzibar are counting the cost already of the storm impact as water sports and outdoor activities were in recent days all but impossible for their guests and one resort owner has expressed fears that the bookings for the Easter weekend may be affected if people cannot reach the island due to the prevailing stormy conditions as they refrain from using the ferries under such circumstances.
Parts of upcountry Tanzania are also said to be affected and there are worries that the rail lines may be submerged in places again where in the past traffic was disrupted by floods, leaving thousands stranded ahead of the long Easter weekend.
Condolences are expressed to the people of Dar es Salaam who lost family members and friends as a result of the almost unprecedented bad weather.
