NAIROBI: Coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania were buffeted by heavy rains and high winds from a tropical cyclone on Saturday, adding to the chaos caused by deadly floods that have ravaged the region. More than 400 people have lost their lives across East Africa and tens of thousands have been uprooted from their homes in recent weeks as torrential rains triggered flooding and landslides that engulfed houses, roads and bridges. The Kenya Met Department said in a bulletin on Saturday that the effects of Tropical Cyclone Hidaya were already being felt offshore, with strong winds exceeding 40 knots and waves over two metres.
It said heavy rainfall along the Indian Ocean coastal strip was expected from Sunday, intensifying over the following two days. "Current observations indicate that Tropical Cyclone Hidaya has made landfall on the coast of Tanzania. However, there is another depression developing behind it," it said.
There was no immediate confirmation from the Tanzanian authorities. In its latest update earlier Saturday, the Tanzanian Meteorological Authority said there had been strong winds and heavy rain along the coast overnight. In the Mtwara area, it said 75.5 millimetres of rain had been reported in 12 hours, compared to the average May rainfall of 54 millimetres.
The Tanzanian agency has advised people living in risk-prone areas and those involved in marine activities to take "maximum precautions". The Climate Prediction and Applications Centre for East African trade bloc IGAD had said on Friday that Cyclone Hidaya will peak at gusts of 165 kilometres per hour when it makes landfall.
Kenyan President William Ruto on Friday described the weather picture as "dire" and postponed the reopening of schools indefinitely with the approach of the nation's first-ever cyclone.
Around 210 people have died in Kenya from flood-related incidents and nearly 100 are missing while 165,000 have been forced to flee their homes, according to government data.
At least 155 people have also been killed in Tanzania by floods and landslides that have swallowed homes and destroyed crops.
East Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change and this year's rains have been amplified by the El Nino weather pattern -- a naturally occurring climate phenomenon typically associated with increased heat globally that leads to drought in some parts of the world and heavy downpours elsewhere. — AFP
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