Landslides in Northern Tanzania Result in 47 Fatalities

0
73a9969f-50f5-4fa9-95a5-6353b1a9c8b8

The northern part of Tanzania has been devastated by landslides, resulting in the tragic loss of 47 lives and injuries to 85 individuals due to heavy rain on Saturday. Queen Sendiga, the regional commissioner in Manyara area, provided an update to the media on Sunday evening, expressing the possibility of the death toll rising.

The calamity began with heavy downpours in Katesh, a town approximately 300 kilometers north of the capital city, Dodoma. The excessive rainfall led to flooding and subsequently, landslides.

These catastrophic weather events can be attributed to the El Nino weather phenomenon, as East Africa has experienced a surge in heavy rain and flooding after a severe drought. Somalia has witnessed over a million people being displaced due to flooding, while hundreds have been displaced in northwestern Kenya. Scientists link the impact of El Nino to climate change, and the vulnerability of the East African region makes it increasingly susceptible to extreme weather conditions.

These landslides occurred at a critical time as global leaders convene for the COP28 climate talks in Dubai, underscoring the urgency of addressing climate change.

In response to the devastating situation, President Samia Suluhu Hassan conveyed her condolences to the affected individuals and disclosed that she has instructed the allocation of government resources to aid the victims.
Suluhu stated, “I have directed all government resources for search and rescue efforts to prevent further deaths. I have also directed all our defence and security agencies to the scene, and the ministry of health to attend to those injured. The mining ministry will also assess areas where mountains have shown signs of collapsing.”

This tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of proactive measures to address climate change and its far-reaching consequences. According to Africanews, it is crucial for nations and global leaders to work towards sustainable solutions that can mitigate the impact of climate change and protect vulnerable communities from such tragic events.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *