At least 155 killed in Tanzania as heavy rains pound East Africa
Al Jazeera
More than 200,000 people and 51,000 households have been affected by the rains, Tanzania’s prime minister said.
Flooding and landslides in Tanzania caused by weeks of heavy rain have killed 155 people and injured 236 others, the country’s prime minister has said, as intense downpours continue across East Africa.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa told Parliament that the El Nino climate pattern has worsened the ongoing rainy season, causing the flooding and destroying roads, bridges and railways.
“The heavy El Nino rains, accompanied by strong winds, floods and landslides in various parts of the country, have caused significant damage,” Majaliwa told Parliament on Thursday.
El Nino is a naturally occurring climate pattern typically associated with increased heat worldwide, as well as drought and heavy rains.
The devastating effects of the rains were “primarily due to environmental degradation”, Majaliwa added, blaming deforestation, unsustainable farming practices such as “slash and burn” agriculture and unregulated livestock grazing.
HMPV infections are spreading in China, while cases of flu-like disease have also been found in India and the UK.
Moscow blames Ukraine for halting gas transit and Moldova for financial spat; Chisinau suspects Russia of seeking to influence upcoming elections.
Verifying casualty figures for soldiers in the Russia-Ukraine war is difficult, as experts call it ‘a war of narratives’.
Authorities say they are investigating the cause of the crash off island located near Perth, Western Australia.
Analysts predict a tough year, as Islamabad prepares for more US belligerence towards China, the closest Pakistan ally.
President Maduro said the group included mercenaries and ‘hit men’, describing two US detainees as ‘very high level’.
Here are the key developments on the 1,049th day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says change will strike $49bn in medical debt from credit reports.
Lim Kimya, 74, had refused to flee Cambodia even after former PM Hun Sen threatened to make opposition MPs lives ‘hell’.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent says fear dominates in Gaza as Israeli attacks intensify, targeting ‘humanitarian safe zone’.
Israeli forces kill 5 children in al-Mawasi as Trump warns Hamas that ‘all hell will break out’ if captives not freed.