Morogoro residents abandon homes

Morogoro. Scores of Morogoro residents had to abandon their houses and seek refuge elsewhere after floods surrounded their homes following three days of continuous rains.

Apart from flooding houses, the rains also destroyed roads and bridges, disconnecting a number of areas and leaving their residents isolated. In many areas, floods swept away crops. The rains started on Thursday and continued yesterday, shutting a lot of activities in and around Morogoro municipality. A famous market, Kikundi, was closed.

Checks by The Citizen on Sunday reporters in various parts of Morogoro town established that many areas were flooded, forcing the residents to move to highlands to save their lives.

Areas which were affected by the heavy rains included Msamvu, Mwembesongo, Kihonda, Mafisa and Kichangani.

The floods carried huge logs and some culverts have been washed away.

Responding to the disaster, Morogoro municipal mayor Amir Nondo has directed the municipal director and engineer to inspect all affected areas and come up with an analysis detailing the extent of the damage. He said the report would enable them to respond to the disaster accordingly.

However, preliminary reports showed that up to 400 people at Mwembesongo were forced to abandon their flooded homes. Most of them were seen outside near their houses fearing that if they go far criminals would take advantage and steal their property.

But Mr Nondo is disappointed that some people have continued to live in valleys despite repeated reminders that they should vacate the dangerous areas.“Even the Meteorological Agency had warned about the heavy rains but no one bothered to move to highlands,” he said.