Tanzania: Floods and Landslides - Mar 2026

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. (IFRC, 10 Apr 2026)