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38 killed by storm in Tanzania's lake zone region of Shinyanga

Xinhua, March 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least 38 people were killed and 60 others injured by a storm that lasted for 30 minutes on Wednesday in Kahama district in Tanzania's lake zone region of Shinyanga.

Benson Mpyesa, Kahama district commissioner, said 35 people died on the spot while three others died when undergoing treatment at Kahama district hospital.

"The number of people killed by the storm could rise because rescue operations are still underway," Mpyesa said, adding that most of the victims were young children.

He said the storm which occurred at Mwakata village also killed livestock and destroyed hectares of farm crops.

"Most of the dead were crushed by stones, damaged houses while others were swept away by flash floods," he said.

Jastus Kamugisha, the Shinyanga regional police commander, said 80 percent of houses in Mwakata village was destroyed by the storm, leaving thousands of villagers homeless.

Mpesya said the Shinyanga regional disaster management committee was expected to meet on Thursday to find out how to help people affected by the storm.

On Tuesday, the Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) executive director Agnes Kijazi said weather forecast indicated that there would be a short period of heavy rains that might cause floods in some areas of the country when the rainfall season begins in the third week of March. Endi