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Tanzania and Kenya have been put on alert for tropical cyclone Hidaya, after weeks of torrential rain and flooding devastated parts of East Africa.
Authorities closed the 396-km highway linking the port city of Dar es Salaam with the southern regions of Lindi and Mtwara on May 5 after flash floods washed away four main bridges over the highway, said Joseph Mwasabeja, commander of the Lindi Fire and Rescue Service in Tanzania.
According to Mr. Mwasabeja, the above route will be blocked until further notice.
In Kenya, the country's Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki announced a ban on all beach activities, swimming and fishing.
According to the Kenya Meteorological Service, there were strong winds and heavy rains along the coast overnight. In the Mtwara area, more than 90 mm of rain was reported in 24 hours, nearly double the average rainfall for May of 54 mm.
The cyclone season in the southwest Indian Ocean typically runs from November to April and sees about a dozen storms each year. Kenyan President William Ruto on May 3 described the weather as “catastrophic” and postponed the reopening of schools indefinitely.
About 210 people have died and nearly 100 are missing in Kenya due to recent flood-related incidents. More than 165,000 others have been forced to flee their homes, according to Kenyan government data.
