DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Catastrophic landslides triggered by torrential rainfall have claimed at least 20 lives in southern Tanzania’s Mbeya region, authorities confirmed Wednesday. The tragedy adds to a growing humanitarian crisis across East Africa where seasonal flooding has already killed dozens more in neighboring countries.
According to Rungwe district administrator Jaffar Haniu, the devastating landslides struck early Wednesday, destroying multiple homes and infrastructure. Among the confirmed fatalities was a toddler aged just one and a half years. Meteorological officials warn that additional rainfall is expected in coming days, prompting urgent evacuation orders for residents in high-risk zones.
The Tanzanian disaster forms part of a broader regional emergency affecting multiple East African nations. In Kenya, seasonal flooding has resulted in at least 88 fatalities across 21 counties, with several rivers overflowing their banks since the onset of heavy rains earlier this month. The crisis has overwhelmed local emergency services, necessitating military deployment to assist rescue operations.
Earlier in March, southern Ethiopia experienced similar devastation when landslides killed approximately 80 people. The Climate Prediction and Applications Centre of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) had previously warned of elevated flood risks, predicting a 45% probability of above-average rainfall during the March-May season across the region from Uganda to Djibouti.
The escalating death toll and widespread destruction have raised serious concerns about disaster preparedness and the vulnerability of communities residing in flood-prone areas throughout East Africa. Emergency response teams continue to work against time as meteorological conditions remain unstable.