Heavy rainfall has triggered deadly landslides in southern Tanzania, killing at least 20 people over the past several days, officials reported.
The disaster struck early Wednesday in the Mbeya region, where high winds and torrential rain destroyed homes, leaving families trapped under debris.
Rungwe district administrator Jaffar Haniu confirmed the rising death toll, noting that one of the victims was a year-and-a-half-old child.
Meteorologists predict further rainfall in the coming days, prompting authorities to urge residents in landslide-prone areas to evacuate immediately.
Across East Africa, the storm season has intensified, with neighboring Kenya reporting 88 fatalities from flooding that has swamped 21 counties.
Rivers have burst their banks after weeks of heavy rains, forcing military and emergency services to assist stranded communities.
Southern Ethiopia also suffered, with at least 80 people killed in landslides earlier in March amid relentless seasonal rainfall.
The scale of the disasters has renewed concerns about disaster preparedness and the vulnerability of communities living near rivers and flood zones.
Regional climate experts warn that above-average rainfall is likely to continue, with the March–May rainy season expected to be unusually intense.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s Climate Prediction and Applications Centre says the probability of above-average rainfall across most East African countries is 45 percent.
Communities from Uganda to Djibouti face heightened risks, as heavy rains and storms continue to challenge emergency response and local infrastructure.
Authorities across the region are mobilizing resources to evacuate vulnerable populations and provide aid to those affected by the relentless flooding.