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TMA: Long rains have just begun, to get even heavier
2008-03-28 10:19:30
By Correspondents Simon Mhina and Njonanje Samwel
The Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) has warned that the long seasonal rains have just started, would be continuous and might be heavier than expected.
Speaking to journalists yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Acting TMA Director Weather Forecast Department Abidan Mlaki, said that the rains would continue until May this year.
He said the weather forecast shows that on-going rains had covered almost every part of the country as of yesterday.
``Since we have not reached the end of March, I can still say the forecast shows that until the end of this month, almost every part of the country will have received enough rains,`` said Mlaki.
Mlaki said the rains were heavier in most areas because of a storm in Mauritius, adding that the agency was still studying the situation to establish if there might be problems that could be associated with the rains in future.
``What I can say for now is that it is the right time for rains; the storm is there but if it contributes to this serious pouring then it must be to a certain level, and if it brings more effects we will let the people know immediately,`` said Mlaki.
He said so far the amount of rain received in Dar es Salaam was between 76.5 and 79.2 millimeters in 24 hours, and the level in Mbeya till Wednesday was still 0.0 millimeters.
Moreover, Mlaki said that the public should bear in mind that there might be heavy rains in a very short period of time in some parts of the country where no rains were expected.
He said the occurrence of storms in the Indian Ocean might affect the seasonal rains system in the country.
``For those with houses built in floods prone areas, I`m alerting them to take action before it is too late because what has happened in the past three days is just the beginning,`` Mlaki said.
Mlaki, commenting on how the rains have damaged the infrastructure said poor infrastruture was the reason why Dar es Salaam went with flooded roads, insisting that if it was good the rainwater would have not inundated or blocked the roads to such a serious level.
Among the places in the city which became affected by this week`s downpour were Mkwajuni and Kigogo in Kinondoni municipality and a section of houses along Mandela Expressway, now under construction.
In some areas houses were destroyed by the floods while in others businesses were closed and city transport brought to a standstill.
A survey carried by `The Guardian` in a number of city suburbs witnessed a dozen of house being washed by rainwater.
Ally Mwenda who is a petty trader at Kariakoo Market complained that businesses went down as customers were no show because of the rains.
``I usually receive many customers in my shop, but today (Wednesday) I had very few,`` he said.
Interviewed people in the city centre said they want the poor drainage system done away with to stave off floods occurence.
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