Dar es Salaam residents walk to their various destinations instead of driving, riding or taking a commuter bus after floods damaged Mzinga Bridge on Kilwa Road in Mbagala yesterday. The ongoing downpour has distrupted transport system in virtually all parts of Tanzania’s commercial capital. PHOTO | JOSEPH ZABLON
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Flood waters covered the road from as early as 4am and by press time none of the vehicels from either side could cross the section.
Kibaha. Thousands of passengers were yesterday stranded for hours at Ruvu Secondary School after River Ruvu waters flooded a section of the Dar Salaam-Morogoro highway rendering it impassable.
Flood waters covered the road from as early as 4am and by press time none of the vehicels from either side could cross the section.
Apart from causing immense problems to travellers, the floods that have been caused by the ongoing downpour, reportedly destroyed more than 30 houses, displacing hundreds of people in the neighbourhood.
Coast Regional Police Commander Ulrich Matei confirmed the incidents, urging people who must travel upcountry to use earthen road that links Kibaha town and Chalinze via Bagamoyo.
He advised those whose travel is not urgent to suspend the plans until the situation returns to normal.
Meanwhile, Hamida Shariff and Lilian Lucas in Morogoro report that four children have reportedly drowned in flooded rivers and ditches in different locations of the region following the ongoing downpours.
The heavy rains that have damaged roads, plantations and people’s houses started pouring in the region on April 10 this year.
The Regional Police Commander, Mr Faustine Shilogile, confirmed the information.
He named the deceased as Festo Andrew, 3, and Chrisantus Mnanagali, 11, who drowned after slipping into a ditch as she played with agemates.
In another incident, Mr Shilogile said two children from the same family drowned as they attempted to cross the flooded River Morogoro at Mlimani.
In another development, Peter Saramba from Arusha reports that the authorities have started taking precautions against flooding following the recent rain-related disasters in other regions. The regional authorities said they started preparing rescue squads and materials. They have started collecting relief items including mattresses, sheets, blankets and food stuffs.
