THIRTY three people have died in devastating floods in Morogoro and Coast regions while roads, bridges, houses, schools and health centres were swept or severely damaged by gushing water.

Mobhare Matinyi, the chief government spokesman, said at a media briefing in Dar es Salaam that 28 people lost their lives in eight districts in Morogoro Region, while two deaths were reported in Rufiji District; two deaths in Kibiti District and one death in Kisarawe District.

Two people have been injured in Kibiti while three injuries were reported in Kisarawe, and a total of 1,014 people were rescued in Rufiji alone, he said, pointing out that 1,035 houses were destroyed and 6,074 houses were surrounded by water but still standing.

Vast acreage of crops have been destroyed, including maize, bananas, millet, sesame, cassava, rice and cotton, he stated, serious damage to roads and other public infrastructure like a health centre in Muhoro village in Rufiji District, swept away by water.

In total, 12 wards out of 13 in Rufiji District; five wards out of 13 in Kibiti District and one ward in Kisarawe District were waterlogged, while in Morogoro Region, 34,970 hectares of various crops were flooded, and 1,466 livestock marooned,

The TAZARA railway was under water at various spots, roads and bridges damaged, he said, affirming that regional and district disaster management committees were evaluating damage levels and needs in disaster areas.

Various donations from civic groups and public agencies had been received and were being handed to affected people, he said, while the PMO-based disaster committee had met and would brief Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa ahead of wider cabinet consultations on the situation.

 He said that El Nino rains had pushed releasing water from gates at the Julius Nyerere hydropower dam starting February, as TANESCO released 3000 to 6000 cubic metres of water, he said, pointing out that the flooding in the zone would have been felt from last October.

“In 2019, the construction of the plant started where until now it has reached 98 percent completion. One generator has started to operate and it generates 235 megawatts of electricity. There are nine generators which can produce 2,115 megawatts,’ he said, emphasizing that the dam was a long term factor in checking floods December 2022 but this season’s rains were exceptional.