At least 155 people have died in floods caused by weeks of heavy rain in Tanzania.

According to Al Jazeera, at least 155 people have lost their lives due to floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in Tanzania.

In an address to parliament on Thursday, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said the current rainy season had been made worse by the El Nino climate pattern, resulting in flooding and the destruction of roads, bridges and railways.

“Heavy El Nino rains, accompanied by strong winds, floods and landslides, have caused significant damage in various parts of the country,” Majaliwa said.

Majaliwa attributed the devastating effects of the rain to unsustainable farming practices such as “slash and burn” agriculture, uncontrolled livestock grazing and deforestation.

The Prime Minister said 51,000 houses and more than 200,000 people were affected by the rains. Emergency services were rescuing people trapped in the floodwaters as flooded schools were closed, Al Jazeera reported.

More than 226 people have also been injured due to floods and rains in Tanzania, while heavy rains continue in East Africa.

El Nino is a naturally occurring weather phenomenon typically associated with rising global temperatures, drought, and heavy rainfall.

Heavier than normal rainfall has fallen across the East African region during the current rainy season, with flooding also reported in neighboring Burundi and Kenya.