Tanzania’s meteorology department on Saturday (May 4) announced that Cyclone Hidaya had significantly lost strength as it neared the country’s coastline. Despite the weakening, authorities urged residents to stay vigilant as the cyclone was expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds until Sunday. No specific update on the cyclone’s maximum wind speeds was provided.
Tanzania experienced a widespread blackout as Cyclone Hidaya brought heavy rains and strong winds, compounding the effects of weeks of flooding in the area on Saturday.
Ferry services between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar were halted as Hidaya approached with maximum winds reaching 120 kph (33 mph) and formidable gusts.
Heavy rains and flooding in Tanzania
Local media reported incidents of trees falling due to the powerful winds on Mafia Island by Saturday afternoon. Authorities continued to advise caution as the cyclone intensified.
The weather service noted unusually high levels of rainfall along the coast overnight, prompting the Tanzania Red Cross Society to conduct readiness campaigns in the area.
The recent heavy rains and flooding in Tanzania and other parts of East Africa have claimed the lives of approximately 155 people, with over 200,000 individuals affected, according to authorities.
Continuous heavy rains over the past weeks have unleashed catastrophic floods throughout Kenya, with the Rift Valley, central, and eastern regions bearing the brunt of the devastation. Since March, relentless downpours have displaced hundreds of thousands of Kenyans, engulfing homes, farmlands, and vital infrastructure. The deluge has rendered roads impassable, impeding access to crucial services and sparking fears of imminent food shortages.
Following the aftermath of the devastating rains, Cyclone Hidaya was anticipated to make landfall in Kenya and neighboring Tanzania on Friday, exacerbating the already dire flooding situation. The Meteorological Department is expecting the El Nino rainfall to persist until June.
