Bodies retrieved from Mzinga River, Jangwani and Ubungo
(1)(1).jpg)
Ilala Regional Police Commander, Marietha Minangi
Four more bodies were yesterday recovered by the police in Dar es Salaam bringing to 17 the number of deaths from the recent floods that roads and bridges in the city and Coast Region.Briefing newsmen in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Ilala Regional Police Commander Marietha Minangi said the bodies were recovered at different places in the city. She said that three bodies were found on Monday and one recovered by mid-morning yesterday.
Minangi named the deceased as Dunia Mtandi (23) whose body was retrieved from the flooded Mzinga River, Elifaza Mbasha a resident of Ubungo who was found dead at Bonde la Mchicha area in Ubungo, Kinondoni District.
Others are Juma Hassan whose body was retrieved from Mzinga River in Kongowe and Frank Bwasheshe aged between 25 and 30 years who was found dead at Jangwani-Kariakoo area.
Meanwhile upcountry travel from Ubungo Bus Terminal (UBT) in Dar es Salaam resumed yesterday, after it was suspended on Monday due to the damage caused by the floods.
Three major bridges on roads leading out of the city were damaged following four days of heavy rains in Morogoro, Dar es Salaam and Coast regions.
The bridges are Ruvu and Mpiji-Bagamoyo bridges in Coast Region and Kongowe Bridge in Temeke District that connects Kongowe and Mjimwema in Kigamboni.
Works Minister, Dr John Magufuli confirmed that all major roads connecting Dar es Salaam with other regions are passable after rehabilitation of the bridges.
According to the Minister the repairs were undertaken by the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TanRoads). He said repairs on Ruvu and Kongowe bridges were completed on Monday night and vehicles cleared to drive across.
Dr Magufuli said repairs on Mpiji-Bagamoyo Bridge in Coast Region are expected to be completed today, adding that roads which were damaged include Kilwa and Mbagala-Kongowe roads.
At Ubungo Bus Terminal it was business as usual as upcountry buses started to leave the stand at around 6am.
Robert Kihaka, bus agent, Dar es Salaam-Njombe route said that several buses had left to different destinations. He added passengers and bus operators suffered financial loss when services were suspended.
An official with the Association Defending Passengers (CHAKUA), Gervas Rutaguzinda complained of lack of basic services and lounges, forcing some passengers to sleep in the open.
“The terminal’s waiting lounge is too small to accommodate all the passengers… some slept on chairs and a few in the buses, posing risk to their health and properties”, he said.
Scholastica Elias who arrived from Morogoro told The Guardian that she left Morogoro bus stand at 7.00pm on Monday and arrived in the city at 6am yesterday.
Floods hit Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Coast regions following torrential rains that started on Friday. The last time Dar es Salaam experienced such floods was in 2011. At least 23 people died and 4,909 people were displaced.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
No Comment to " Death toll from floods now 17 "