Tanzania on Alert as Cyclone Hidaya Strengthens, Threatening Landfall

News Agencies 

Islamabad: Kenya and Tanzania are preparing for the impact of Cyclone Hidaya, a formidable storm anticipated to reach Tanzanian shores on Saturday.

Tanzanian authorities announced on Friday that Hidaya had intensified into a fully-fledged cyclone earlier in the day, situated approximately 400 kilometers (248 miles) away from the coastal city of Mtwara.

According to a weather bulletin, Cyclone Hidaya’s strength continued to grow, with wind speeds reaching around 130 kilometers per hour.

The Kenyan Interior Ministry warned of the cyclone’s potential to bring strong winds, high ocean waves, and heavy rainfall. 

Consequently, the Kenyan government has issued evacuation orders for residents near 178 dams and reservoirs, many of which are at capacity or nearing full capacity, with enforcement if necessary.

Kenya’s Flash Floods Claim Over 200 Lives

Flash floods and intense rainfall in Kenya, starting in mid-March, have resulted in over 200 fatalities, as reported by the country’s Interior Ministry on Friday.

Within the last day alone, 22 individuals lost their lives. Both Kenya and neighboring Tanzania have been contending with severe flooding and heavy rains since the beginning of the rainy season. The harsh weather conditions have claimed the lives of approximately 155 people in Tanzania thus far.

Kenyan President William Ruto lamented, “Regrettably, we have not witnessed the end of this dangerous period, as the situation is anticipated to worsen. Meteorological forecasts depict a grim scenario.”