Flooding in Tanzania has killed 155 people as heavy rains continue in Eastern Africa

A family uses a boat to flee the floodwaters that wreaked havoc in the Githurai area of Nairobi, Kenya

Flooding in Tanzania, caused by weeks of heavy rain, has resulted in 155 deaths and impacted over 200,000 people, according to the prime minister's announcement on Thursday.

The death toll has doubled from two weeks ago, with rainfall intensifying, especially along the coast and in the capital, Dar es Salaam.

Residents rescue a woman trapped during heavy rain in the Mathare slum of Nairobi, Kenya

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa informed parliament that the El Niño climate pattern has exacerbated the rainy season, leading to flooding that has damaged infrastructure like roads, bridges, and railways. Flooded schools have been closed, and emergency services are rescuing stranded individuals.

Majaliwa urged residents in low-lying areas to relocate to higher ground and instructed district officials to ensure aid reaches those most affected. Over 51,000 households have been impacted by the rains.

A woman is recued from her flooded house by Red Cross workers in the Githurai area of Nairobi, Kenya

The broader East African region is also experiencing heavy rains, with floods reported in Burundi and Kenya.

In Kenya, as of Monday, 35 deaths were reported due to flooding, with expectations of a rise in numbers as flooding persists.

In Nairobi's Mathare slum, at least four bodies were recovered from flooded homes on Wednesday, with reports of more bodies found in the Mathare River.

Residents gather around the covered bodies of women retrieved from a house, after heavy rains in the Mathare slum of Nairobi, Kenya

Kenyan President William Ruto chaired a flood response meeting and directed the National Youth Service to allocate land to people affected by floods.