7 killed, 5,000 homeless amid Tanzania floods‏

By Peter Saramba Ongiri

ARUSHA, Tanzania 

At least seven people have been confirmed dead and over 5,000 displaced by heavy rains that have POUNDED Dar es Salaam.

"The death toll has reached seven while over 5,000 people are homeless after more than 500 houses were surrounded by water," Vice-President Mohamed Gharib Bilal told reporters.

"The government is doing all necessary efforts to help those in need," he said.

Heavy rainfall has lashed Tanzania's coastal areas since last week.

According to Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Said Mecky Sadik, five people have drowned while two were electrocuted while attempting to push a truck in a ditch after hitting an electricity pole.

Tanzania's electricity supply company has urged people in affected areas to exercise caution when approaching electricity wires or poles.

"The two who were electrocuted were not aware of the live electric wires that had fallen on the vehicle when they tried to push the truck," company spokesman Adrian Mvungi told The Anadolu Agency.

Agnes Kijazi, director-general of the Tanzania Metrological Agency, expected heavy rain to continue for another three days or more.

"Apart from Dar es Salaam, other regions that are expected to receive abnormally heavy rains are Mtwara, Lindi, Zanzibar and Tanga," he told AA.

More than 38 people were killed and thousands displaced early this month when rains pounded northwestern Tanzania's Shinyanga region.

In April of last year, at least 46 people died and hundreds were left homeless following heavy rainfall and flooding in the Morogoro region.