Devastating floods near Mount Hanang in northern Tanzania have claimed the lives of at least 47 people, injured 85 others, prompting President Samia Suluhu Hassan to cut short her UN summit trip and deploy military forces to address the region's worst flooding in years.
Severe flooding and landslides in northern Tanzania have claimed the lives of at least 47 people, leaving 85 others injured, according to authorities on Monday. The government has taken swift action by deploying the military to aid in the rescue of hundreds who are trapped in the aftermath of what has been described as the worst flooding in years in the East African nation, as reported by AP.
The affected area, near Mount Hanang, has witnessed widespread destruction, with houses, roads, and bridges succumbing to the force of the flooding, further complicating ongoing rescue operations. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, currently attending the UN climate summit in Dubai, has announced her decision to cut short her trip and return to Tanzania in response to the tragic events.
Expressing her condolences to the affected families in a video message, President Hassan has directed all security forces to mobilize to the affected area and provide assistance. This disaster comes amid a broader regional crisis, with other East African countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan, grappling with the devastating impact of floods exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon.
Since late October, heavy rains have plagued the region, resulting in hundreds of casualties and displacing millions of people across East Africa.