ABOUT 155 people have died from flood and landslides caused by El Niño in Tanzania, leaving at least 236 injured, the country’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Thursday, April 25.

According to Majaliwa, over 10,000 houses were damaged, with about 200,000 people being affected.

He warned that the rains might continue into May and urged families to leave flood-prone areas.

“The heavy El Nino rains, accompanied by strong winds, floods, and landslides in various parts of the country, have caused significant damage. These include loss of life, destruction of crops, homes, citizens’ property, and infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and railways,” he said.

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Like Tanzania, heavy rains have also swept through other countries in East Africa, including Kenya and Burundi, causing a humanitarian crisis in the region.

Kenya has experienced severe rain since mid-March, but the downpours have worsened over the last week, resulting in widespread flooding.

Since the rains began, around 45 people have died as a result of flooding in Kenya, with 13 dead in Nairobi this week, while over 96,000 people have been displaced in Burundi.

Kenya’s president, William Ruto, called for an emergency multi-agency meeting and ordered the army to help with rescue operations as the rains pounded large parts of the country.

The rains caused floods that engulfed homes and blocked roads and bridges in some slum areas of the capital.

With forecasts predicting additional heavy rains, Kenyans have been cautioned to remain vigilant, as residents residing in the most flood-prone areas would be relocated.

During a press briefing, the country’s deputy speaker, Gladys Boss, told reporters that “the government would do whatever it takes, apply all the required resources in terms of money and personnel to make sure that lives are not lost and the people of Kenya are protected from this disaster.”