Tanzania: Mbeya Floods and landslides - DREF Operation (MDRTZ044)

Country: United Republic of Tanzania Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. Description of the Event Date of event 25-03-2026 What happened, where and when? In late March 2026, prolonged and intense rainfall associated with the March–May rainy season caused severe flooding and landslides in the Mbeya Region, located in Tanzania’s Southern Highlands. The most affected area was Rungwe District, where continuous heavy rains saturated the soil, triggering multiple landslides and flash floods. The disaster occurred primarily between the evening of 25 March and the early hours of 26 March 2026, with heavy rainfall reported for several consecutive hours. According to local authorities and media reports, the rains were accompanied by strong winds, significantly worsening ground instability and surface runoff. The worst‐affected wards were Nkunga, Lupepo, Kawetele and Ikuti in Rungwe District. Landslides swept through these communities, burying houses constructed mainly of mud bricks and corrugated iron sheets, while flooding damaged access roads and public infrastructure. As of 27 March 2026, official reports confirmed that at least 20 people had lost their lives, the majority of whom were children, and several others were injured. Search and rescue operations were ongoing amid continued rainfall, with concerns about secondary landslides and further flooding. The floods and landslides caused loss of lives, destruction of homes, displacement of families, and disruption of livelihoods, particularly among farming households. Access to some affected areas remained constrained due to damaged roads and unstable terrain, complicating emergency response efforts. Local government authorities, supported by the Tanzania Red Cross Society, initiated initial response actions including search and rescue, first aid, and rapid needs assessments.

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