A major power outage hit most of Tanzania on Saturday as heavy rain and strong winds from Cyclone Hidaya battered the country. following weeks of flooding in the region.
Ferry services between Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s commercial hub, and Zanzibar were suspended as Cyclone Hidaya approached the east African coast with maximum winds of 120 km/h (33 mph) and powerful gusts.
Authorities have warned residents to exercise caution as the intensity of the cyclone increases.
P.A.
The weather service said higher than usual amounts of precipitation were recorded in coastal areas overnight. The Tanzanian Red Cross is conducting preparedness campaigns along the coast.
In recent weeks, floods in Kenya and Tanzania have killed hundreds of people after heavy rains during the region’s monsoon season, officials said. Floods in Tanzania have killed 155 people and affected more than 200,000 others, the prime minister said in April.
In Kenya, 70 people have died since the monsoon began in March, a government official said.
The East African region is very vulnerable to climate change. El Niño is should last until spring. The region’s dry season usually begins in June.
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