Tanzanians flee Mtwara region as Cyclone Kenneth nears

What you need to know:

The order to close schools and workplaces was issued on Wednesday by Mtwara Regional Commissioner Gelasius Byakanwa.
On Wednesday afternoon, the storm was 450km from Mtwara but travelling at dizzying speed towards Tanzania.
A cyclone in March hit Mozambique leaving in its wake almost a 1,000 people dead and a devastated infrastructure.

Tanzanians living in the southern coastal region of Mtwara on Thursday were scrambling to leave as Cyclone Kenneth is set to make landfall tonight.

Authorities in the region ordered schools and businesses closed to ensure the residents’ safety after warning of life-threatening effects the deluge storm will bring.

The order to close schools and workplaces was issued on Wednesday by Mtwara Regional Commissioner Gelasius Byakanwa.

Meanwhile, the Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) said the storm would make landfall in Tanzania and Mozambique on Thursday night.

The agency told journalists on Wednesday that the storm had been spotted in the north western parts of Madagascar, which is about 600km from the coast of Tanzania’s Mtwara region and was travelling at 160km/hr.

Earlier this week, AccuWeather, an American media company that provides commercial weather forecasting services, said the cyclone is likely to hit Lindi and Mtwara regions of Tanzania and Pemba in Mozambique this week.

The amount of rainfall expected, AccuWeather said, can result in life-threatening flooding and lead to homes being inundated by floodwaters.

“If this depression becomes the next organised tropical cyclone in the South-West Indian Ocean, it would be given the name Kenneth,” said AccuWeather.

TMA acting Director-General Pascal Waniha said the cyclone is expected to be 450 kilometers from Mtwara travelling at a wind speed of 130km/hr.

“During the night, tropical storm Kenneth is expected to be 250km from Mtwara, travelling at an estimated speed of 150km/hr,” Dr Wahina said.