Heavy Rains, Flooding Pound Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Heavy rains and dangerous flooding has killed more than a dozen people in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in East Africa, and left thousands homeless.

The Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) said the country has not witnessed such extreme rains since 1961 when it became an independent nation.

The unusually high amount of rainfall is expected to continue, warned TMA.

Indeed, TMA’s Director General, Dr Agness Kijazi, said the inclement weather is likely to persist for at least two more days.

Kijazi told The Citizen newspaper of Tanzania: “A cloud, which has formed over the Indian Ocean due to building of pressure, will continue to cause heavy rains in some areas. The situation will last for the next two days.”

BBC reported that business and life in the city has come to a virtual halt, with several principal roads and bridges either destroyed or flooded.

The government has provided some temporary accommodations for those who have been flooded out of their homes.

A local resident named Taabu Kibwa told BBC: We have lost all our properties; in fact we are left with empty hands. Everything in the house has been lost including television sets and refrigerators. I have three children, one of whom I don't even know where he is.

Another resident named Shaaban Ramadhan Hussein, told the UK news agency: Everywhere is flooded, people are on top of their house roofs, no rescue has come so far. We are not happy, it is like the government doesn't care about us.”

However, local police officials say they are frustrated by the refusal of some people to abandon their homes during the rain.

Suleiman Kova the police commander for Dar es Salaam, complained to reporters: We went [to] rescue some and they then refused to vacate saying they are keeping an eye on their properties.”

The Citizen reported that the Red Cross is sending food relief for stranded Tanzanians, while the Tanzania People’s Defense Forces (TPDF) is engaged in rescue operations.

As rains continue to pound Tanzania, health officials are also concerned about the potential for a cholera outbreak.

President Jakaya Kikwete wrote on his Facebook account: “My heart goes to all those who have been affected by the disaster from the heavy rains which continue in Dar es Salaam.”