Tana River flash floods: Over 300 families spend third night in the cold

The families drawn from three villages in Saka, Bura Constituency, lost their homes alongside their livestock, with the downpour affecting business and Transport activities, after roads were rendered impassable.

Their plight is the aftermath of a two-day downpour in Metawardesa, Eldera na Lagajira villages in Bura Tana River County, rains that saw river Lagajira break its banks, and its waters tear down anything that stood on its path.

According to area Chief Mumina Harun, the raging waters have already left over 300 families without shelter, as they scampered for safer ground when the torrential floods hit.

“Mifugo pia zimepotea, kule juu pia mahali lagjira imetoka kuna pia wananchi ambao wako pale, mifugo zao zaidi ya mia tatu imeenda na maji,” said Mumina Harun.

The waters, that have subsided for now, compounding an already worsened situation, after they rendered the only access roads to the three villages impassable hampering transportation of basic commodities to the affected families.

“Hakuna mtu amekufa lakini mbuzi zimeenda, nyumba zimeadhirika. Nyumba zetu hazina matope zimeisha,atuna mahali ya kukaa, mahali ilikuwa ni Kijiji tunakaa hio Kijiji tukitarajia kuhama,” said Amina Kokomani.

“Tulikuwa na maji safi ianenda huko mpaka juu. Hio maji pia, imekatika. Ile maji tunatumia hapa ni ile maji chafu. Hio maji sasa inaeza kutuletea madhara,” added Said Hassan..

And as they embark on setting up make shift shelters, affected residents have called for swift government action in getting them timely relief, as they stare at hunger with no end in sight for the rains, currently on their onset.

Juma Ali added: “Tuko na pesa tumeeka kwa hii mambo ya elnino. Tuko na pesa tumeeka kwa DRM, so hii pesa isikae tu kwa kaunti, isaidie wananchi.”