This archive report was first published on 18 December 2019.
Heavy rains pounded Dar es Salaam City on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, causing widespread disruption to transport and business.
According to eyewitnesses, the rains began early morning, forcing authorities to close some roads that were submerged. Many bridges were also flooded or damaged, forcing residents to seek alternative routes.
City dwellers who live in flood-prone areas sought refuge elsewhere as their houses were filled with floodwaters. Some were able to salvage their property, while in other areas, property was damaged or swept away by floodwaters.
"I have lived here for over 12 years but I haven’t experienced this (floods). When the rain started I had already left the house and when I came back I found it flooded; I couldn’t save any of my property," said Iddi Mkwawa, a Tandale resident.
The Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) had forecast heavy rains in Dar es Salaam, Rukwa, Mbeya, Songwe, Iringa, Njombe, Ruvuma, Lindi, and Mtwara between November 2019 and April 2020.
As a result of the floods, the fire and rescue brigade urged Dar es Salaam residents living in low-lying areas to move to higher ground.
While most traders complained of poor business due to the rains, some enterprising residents capitalized on the floods and infrastructure damage to earn some money – they charged Tsh1,000 to carry people on their backs across flooded areas.
