Landslide kills five in southwestern Tanzania

Five people were killed and several others injured in a landslide caused by heavy rains that hit the southwest Tanzania's district of Rungwe, local officials said Thursday.

James Mgumba, the Busokelo Division Officer in the district, said the incident occurred Wednesday midnight when the landslide hit the area following rains which hit the area for eight consecutive hours.

"The rains were accompanied with strong winds," Mgumba said, adding that most of the dead were from the Busokelo Council, Rungwe District Mbeya region when people were asleep.

The affected area lies on the slopes of Mount Rungwe-the southern Tanzania's second highest peak.

Reports said that houses and other people's properties like cattle, and food crops have been swept off by the land slide, which is the downward falling or sliding of a mass of soil, detritus, or rock on or from a steep slope.

The official said those who were injured were rushed at Itete Lutheran Mission Hospital for treatment.

"Assessment is underway. And we're waiting for the report to exactly know the scale of the problem, and the number of people who were rendered homeless," Mgumba said.

Zainabu Mbiro, Rungwe District Commissioner confirmed the disaster, saying the affected areas include Lwangwa and Lupata wards.

She said: "A rescue team has been dispatched into the affected areas and assess on the scale of the disaster as well as ensuring that the affected people get accommodation and humanitarian aids."

In April 2001, two people were killed in a landslide caused by heavy rains in Rungwe District in Mbeya Region southern Tanzania. Endit