Families left out in the cold after high winds, rain

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A resident of Karakata in Dar es Salaam, Mr Denis Msabila, shows a section of his house that had its roof blown away by storm wind yesterday. Heavy rains have been pouring causing havoc in the city for days. Strong winds blew away the roofs of at least 45 houses in Karakata Ward in Ilala District on Monday, leaving several families out in the cold.

Most of the residents had to fall back on used iron sheets to repair the damage brought by rain which was accompanied by high winds.

According to Ms Mary Mwinuka, residents grabbed any iron sheet they came across, regardless of who it belonged to. She added: “I was in the kitchen with my three grandchildren when I heard a rumbling noise. I assumed it was an airplane flying past but, looking up at the ceiling, I saw the sky instead and started yelling for help while leading my grandchildren out.”

To her disbelief, the sky was silvery as if someone had poured flour on it. Things were in a mess. Pieces of iron sheets were flying about in every direction and people were screaming for help. “Thank God we were not hurt despite all that confusion,” she told reporters.

The chairman of Karakata Ward, Mr Garson Mariki, said most of the houses were left open, but some were flattened by the strong winds that hit at around 1pm.”

Yesterday, The Citizen met a team from Ilala Municipality that was evaluating the damage to establish how to assist those affected. The Tanzania Meteorological Agency has been issuing alerts following forecasts that coastal regions will experience strong winds during this rainy season.

Meanwhile, Sinza Palestine Hospital in Kinondoni District was flooded on Wednesday by what appeared to be a blocked water drain in the neighbourhood.

The chief medical officer, Dr Benedict Luoga, told The Citizen yesterday that the hospital had complained several times but nothing had been done even after a request for help from Kinondoni Municipal officials to ensure the drain is widened and kept clean.

“We have been writing to the municipal council on the dangers that may be caused by the drain, which floods every time there are strong rains,” said Dr Luoga, “but it has not taken action; we were told that the road was now under the Tanzania Roads Agency.”

The hospital is now planning to use its own finances to put up a bump at the entrance and an edge to block the water from entering the hospital premises.