29th December 2009
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L23 houses swept away as Ngerengere river banks burst
A car submerge at River Mkondoa at Kilosa District in Morogoro region.
At least 23 houses have been swept by flash floods leaving more than 700 people homeless in Morogoro District after a swollen River Ngerengere burst its banks causing torrents of water to gush into people's settlements.
Presenting a report to the Morogoro District Commissioner, Saidi Mwambungu Head of the Ngerengere camp of the Tanzania People's Defence Forces Lieutenant Col. Anthony Msindai said TPDF managed to rescue a number of people's lives and properties and no death was reported following the disaster.
According to Lt Col Msindai, people who were affected on December 27, this year were from Visaraka, Fatemi and Kidugalo villages in Ngerengere division, and that TPDF officials had succeeded to rescue all the affected families.
For his part, DC Mwambungu commended TPDF soldiers for their efforts to rescue the victims in the area affected by the floods.
Reports from Kilosa District in Morogoro region say that River Mkondo continued to swell thus posing a threat to people's lives. According to the District Council Executive Director, Ephraim Kalimalwendo victims of the floods have been kept in schools and offices of ward executive officers.
He said district authorities were evaluating the extent of the damage in the area.
Kalimalwendo said the level of River Mkondo had risen due to heavy rains in catchment areas in Dodoma Region, adding that the situation was likely to get worse and rains were continuing.
He said that roads and other infrastructures were likely to suffer major damage as a result of the floods.
Meanwhile, two people died in Dodoma after flash floods swept four houses.
Dodoma Regional Police Commander, Zelothe Stephen, confirmed the incident, saying one incident occurred at Mlebe village in Chamwino district.
He said one of the deceased was identified as Matonya Chidelenje(60) and one man in Kongwa district who wasn't identified.
The RPC said that the two people died after being swept by the floods.
Further reports say eight houses along Bwawani Street, Kizota ward in Dodoma municipality have been swept by flood due to the ongoing heavy rains in the country's designated capital.
Kizota Ward Councillor, Bakari Juma said more than 30 houses have been swept by floods in his ward.
He said that the floods were caused by blocked sewerage system in the area.
Other areas affected with floods in the municipality include Swaswa, Nkuhungu, Mailimbili and Chamwino.
Commenting on the ongoing rains, the Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) acting director general, Philbert Tibaijuka said that torrential rains that pounded Dodoma and Morogoro regions during Christmas were caused by a convergence of two air masses to the east of Lake Victoria, North-eastern highlands that occurred.
He called upon people to take necessary precautions as the torrential rains will continue for the next few days across the country.
He however said that TMA would continue working on the country's weather trend and give alerts as soon as possible for people to take essential safety measures.
Tibaijuka further said that other parts that were hit by the air masses were central areas, South-western highlands including southern parts of Morogoro region (Mahenge) towards southern region.
He said that between December 24 and 28, 2009, there was enhanced rainfall over most parts of the country particularly Lake zone, North-eastern highlands, Central, South-western highlands, and southern parts of the country.
"This convergence persisted over the same areas on December 26 but more confined to the north-eastern highlands, eastern half of Dodoma (including Morogoro) to south-western highlands and southern region," explained Tibaijuka
He added that the convergence moved to the southern coast by the morning of December 27 and diminished later in the evening. Generally, there was a ridge over the western part of the country which allowed pumping of moist unstable air mass from Congo basin to south-western highlands, central and south parts of the country.
Tibaijuka also cleared fears of Tsunami that has started hitting some parts of the country saying TMA was linked with an Indian ocean system that would alert Tanzania whenever a Tsunami was likely to occur.
It was earlier reported that heavy rains pounded Dodoma and Morogoro regions during Christmas festive leaving thousands of people homeless.
The rains began on the eve of Christmas Day, and continued well into Boxing Day, bringing misery to hundreds of families in Kongwa and Kilosa districts in Dodoma and Morogoro regions, respectively.
Thousands of people were forced to seek shelter elsewhere after their house were either swept away or flooded after a downpour lasting several hours.
The story was compiled by Angel Navuri in Dar, Correspondents Idda Mushi in Morogoro and Augusta Njoji in Dodoma.
