Floods kill seven, render 21 families homeless

SEVEN people from two different families at Talanda Village in Milepa Ward along the Lake Rukwa Rift Valley Basin in Sumbawanga District have died after being flushed out of their houses by raging floods.

The victims were buried under the sand following heavy rains which lasted for three hours and rendered also 21 families homeless after their houses were badly damaged.

Also Kalola Helakumi (33) who is the father of the family whose five members died sustained multiple injuries and he is currently admitted at Mtowisa Health Centre. According to reports from the facility he is progressing well.

Rukwa Regional Police Commander (RPC) Mr Shadrack Masija confirmed the incident saying the calamity wreaked the havoc with many still reeling from its pangs.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) RPC Misaja further said the heavy rain, which started shortly after mid night on April 11 this year lasted till 3:00 am on April 12.

Milepa Ward Executive Officer (WEO) Mr Deusdedit Kayola told the ‘Daily News’ yesterday that one family lost five members-the mother and four children and the second one lost two members, both being their children.

Elaborating, Mr Kayola noted that the five members from the same family who died were identified as their mother-Elizabeth Masumbuko (33) and four children namely Loza Sipioni (10), Edina Sipioni (6), Maria Sipioni (3) and Junior Sipioni (2).

In the other family, those who died were identified Said Kofiambili (16) who was in Standard Four and Farida Kofiambili (12) who was in Standard Three at Kisa Primary School.

He added: “Kalola Helakumi has sustained multiple injuries and has been hospitalised at Mtowisa health facility and his condition is improving. But, generally all the seven were buried on Tuesday.”

Narrating the ordeal, Mr Kayola said that the heavy rains started at around mid-night and lasted for three hours on Lymba lya Mfipa escarpment which overlooks Talanda Village which.

” The heavy rains caused landslide, it uprooted huge trees and stones and hauled them into Talanda River and thereafter littered the river and with building floods the river’s bank burst and badly damaged several houses at the village, particularly some ten totally flattened,” he

In intervention, eyewitnesses said that some brave villagers formed a temporary rescue team at around 4:pm, which managed to discover three bodies.

“Immediately we identified them as Elizabeth the mother and her two children, while at around 8: 00 am two bodies of two children were discovered ” explained one of the eye witnesses, who introduced himself by a single name as John.

Equally at around 10am the team discovered body of Farida aged 12 years in the paddy farm closer to the Lake Rukwa.

On his side the Talanda Village Chairperson Mr Oscar Jacob said those who were rescued have taken refuge at the houses of some of their friends and relatives and nearby classrooms.

“Some of the victims have been taken refuge at the homesteads of their relatives and friends,” said Mr Jacob.

One of the victims, Ms Mary George called upon the government and aid agencies to come forward and provide them with relief supplies, including temporary shelters.

“Practically we have lost everything,” explained Ms George