Continuous heavy rains since early April across much of Tanzania have triggered floods and landslides, affecting over 200,000 people and destroying many infrastructure facilities.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city, is the worst hit this time. The city's main artery Morogoro Road is inundated. The floods have also damaged numerous roads, bridges, railways, and other infrastructure facilities in the city.
The Rufiji District of the Pwani Region is also one of the worst-hit areas. In the district's Mohoro Village, people have to travel on boats in floods, and they are in urgent need of essential supplies and sanitation services.
"There used to be a bridge at this site. It could get to the Mohoro market. But now, the bridge is underwater in the floods. It's risky to cross this area now, and many people have to take boats to go from one place to another," said a local villager.
"That house that got flooded was mine. At a round 20:00, the flood came. My whole family was inside the house at the time. When the water burst into the house, we had to leave right away to the road outside. Later, we took our luggage to settle at a place higher up," said another local resident affected by the flood.
As of Thursday, the death toll from flash floods in Tanzania has risen to 155.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, much of Africa is currently experiencing extreme weather due to the combined effects of the El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole phenomena.
Floods devastate Tanzania
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that China is ready to work with Japan in building a constructive and stable relationship that meets the requirements of the new era.
Xi made the remarks in his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.
"I am very happy to meet Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in person, and congratulations on your election again. After taking office, you said that you will advance the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit so as to bring more benefits to people of the two countries, and I appreciate this. I am willing to strengthen communication and coordination with you to jointly push China-Japan relations along the right track and make steady and long-term progress," Xi said. "At present, the international and regional situations are rapidly changing and turbulent, and China-Japan relations are at a critical stage of improvement and development. China and Japan are close neighbors and important countries in Asia and the world, and our bilateral relations bear significance beyond bilateral dimension. The Chinese side is ready to work with Japan in accordance with the principles and directions set out in the four political documents between China and Japan, and adhere to the important consensus that China and Japan are cooperative partners rather than threats to each other. We shall make joint efforts to comprehensively advance the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit, and strive to build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship that meets the requirements of the new era," Xi said.
Sixty-seven-year-old Ishiba was reelected as Japan's 103rd prime minister on Monday after securing the most votes in both houses of the Japanese Diet.
This year's APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is being held on Friday and Saturday under the theme "Empower, Include, Grow", gathering heads of state and other dignitaries from 21 member economies across the Asia-Pacific region, including China, the United States, and other major economies in Southeast Asia.
Xi calls for constructive, stable China-Japan relations
