Tanzania’s 396-kilometre highway, connecting the port city of Dar es Salaam to the southern regions of Lindi and Mtwara, was shut down on Sunday due to flash floods that washed away at least four major bridges.

“The highway has been closed until further notice,” Joseph Mwasabeja, the Tanzania Fire and Rescue Force commander for Lindi region, told Xinhua when reached on phone.

Heavy overnight rainfall from tropical cyclone Hidaya triggered flash floods after it lost strength following landfall on Mafia Island.

He said the floods washed away bridges over Mbwemkuru, Somanga, Mikereng’ende and Matandu rivers in Kilwa district in Lindi region.

Mohamed Nyundo, Kilwa district commissioner, said the floods also submerged several houses in seven villages, displacing scores of villagers and damaging hundreds of hectares of farm crops.

On Saturday night, the Tanzania Meteorological Authority declared that tropical cyclone Hidaya had completely lost its strength following its landfall on Mafia Island earlier on Saturday.

The tropical cyclone was forecast to hit the country’s Indian Ocean coast regions of Mtwara, Lindi, Coast, Tanga and Dar es Salaam.

At least 155 people have lost their lives in flood and landslides-related incidents in the country.

Due to heavy floods in southern Tanzania, several bridges over the Mbwemkuru, Somanga, Mikereng’ende, and Matandu rivers have been washed away. This has caused major disruptions in transportation and has also put the safety of the local communities at risk. The damage caused by the floods is currently being assessed, and efforts are underway to restore the bridges and minimize the impact on the affected areas.