Volcanic erruption

A landslide is the rapid movement of a large mass of rocks or soil materials down a slope due to the force of gravity. The speed of the movement depends on the steepness of the slope—steeper slopes result in faster movements, while gentler slopes cause slower movements.

Causes of Landslides

Landslides are caused by various natural factors:

1. Volcanic eruptions: These cause shaking and the collapse of the upper layers of the earth’s crust, weakening the soil and rocks, leading to a landslide.
2. Earthquakes: The shaking from an earthquake weakens the bonds between soil and rocks, making the ground more prone to collapse.
3. Heavy rains and flooding: When there is excessive rainfall or melting ice, the water table rises. The soil absorbs more water, which increases the weight of the soil and reduces its adhesion. This loss of cohesion can result in a landslide.

Recent Landslides in Tanzania

Some of the major landslide events in Tanzania occurred in:

1. Same District, Kilimanjaro Region
2. Kilosa District, Morogoro Region

These events took place in 2014.

Effects of landslides

When landslide occurs, it can cause the following effects:

1. Damage to infrastructure, properties and settlements: Landslide can destroy and block roads. It can also destroy railways, bridges, electric and telephone poles, oil pipelines and drainage structures. This condition may suspend productive activities for a period of time. In addition, when landslide occurs, it can destroy properties and settlements; thus leading into poverty;

2. Damage to plants and deaths of animals: When landslide occurs, debris could cover animals and plants in the lowlands. This can lead to animal deaths and damage the vegetation of the particular area; and

3. Removal of the top fertile soil layers: Landslide may cause the removal of top fertile soil layers. The affected areas become unproductive and thus affect vegetation and agricultural activities. This condition can lead to lack of adequate food in a particular area

Precautions When Dealing with the Effects of Landslides

1. Plant Trees: Plant trees and other vegetation on steep slopes to prevent landslides.
2. Avoid Illegal Logging: Prevent logging and forest burning that weaken the land.
3. Avoid Building on Steep Slopes: Avoid construction in valleys and on steep slopes to reduce landslide risks.
4. Public Education: Authorities should educate people about landslide risks and vulnerable areas.
5. Weather Awareness: Stay informed about weather forecasts via radio and TV, and take action to prevent landslides.
6. Sustainable Land Use: Follow sustainable practices, especially on steep slopes, and seek professional advice before building or farming.
7. Reforest Mined Land: Restore forests on surface-mined land by planting trees after mining ends.
8. After a Landslide: Clear blocked water systems, remove debris like mud and waste, and restore the area to its original state.

The term Tsunami is a Japanese word that means "harbour wave." It refers to large ocean waves caused by earthquakes beneath the ocean floor or other natural forces such as volcanic eruptions, meteors falling into the ocean, or the displacement of rocks in the ocean floor. Even nuclear bomb testing can trigger tsunamis.

Causes of Tsunamis

Tsunamis are primarily caused by:

1. Earthquakes or other earth movements beneath the ocean, which release energy and cause large ocean waves.
2. Volcanic eruptions and meteors falling into the ocean.
3. Displacement of rocks on the ocean floor.
4. Nuclear bomb testing can also result in a tsunami.

How Tsunamis Form

When these movements or disturbances occur, they release energy in the ocean floor, which then generates huge waves at the surface of the ocean. These waves begin to travel rapidly across the ocean, increasing in strength as they approach shorelines.

Characteristics of Tsunami Waves

1. Speed: Tsunami waves can travel at speeds of 10 to 800 kilometers per hour.
2. Duration: The waves can last on average one hour.
3. Height: Tsunami waves can reach heights of 10 to 30 meters.

Regions Affected by Tsunamis

The Pacific Ocean, particularly around Indonesia and Japan, experiences frequent tsunamis, primarily due to the occurrence of major earthquakes beneath the ocean floor in these regions.

Effects of Tsunami

1. Deaths of people in the coastal areas: Tsunami waves significantly affect coastal areas. For example, the largest tsunami in historical records occurred in the Indian Ocean, East Asia on 26th December 2004. The incident affected several countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and India. This tsunami is believed to have caused more than 230,000 deaths in 14 countries. The effects were also felt in East African countries whereby 11 people in Tanzania and 1 person in Kenya lost their lives while swimming in the Indian Ocean;

2. Destruction of settlements and infrastructure: Tsunami waves hit beaches and destroy infrastructure. The most affected properties include residences, hotels and restaurants, tourism centres, and different recreational areas. Also, tsunami destroys transport networks such as roads, railways, ports and airports as well as power houses;

3. Flooding and pollution of water sources: This condition is caused by large waves of tsunami that move towards coastal areas and cause floods. Also, stagnant water in settlement areas may cause swamps that become breeding sites of insects. This situation causes spread of various diseases such as malaria, typhoid, cholera and diarrhoea;

4. Destruction of the habitats of living organisms: When a tsunami hits fish-breeding areas such as coral reefs, they destroy and affect their existence. This causes fish and other marine organisms to die; and

5. Damaging natural vegetation: Tsunami waves can erode trees and other vegetation. This leads to disappearance of natural vegetation eventually destroying the ecosystem of the affected area which is habitat to various animals.

Precautions to Reduce the Effects of Tsunamis

1. Control Human Activities: Avoid enrichment and testing of nuclear bombs or explosives in the ocean to reduce human-induced earthquakes.
2. Avoid Coastal Settlements: Do not build or live along coastal areas unless construction follows professional advice on safe distances from the ocean.
3. Early Warnings: Authorities should issue early warnings if signs of tsunamis, such as earthquakes or tidal changes, are detected.
4. Public Education: Educate the public about tsunami effects and safety measures.
5. Move to High Ground: If a tsunami occurs, move to higher ground for safety and evacuation.
6. Avoid Water Streams: Stay away from streams leading to the ocean, as they may have strong, dangerous waves.

Fire is a combustion process that produces heat and light. It is also described as a chemical reaction between a combustible substance, oxygen, and heat. Fire hazards refer to materials, substances, or actions that increase the likelihood of a fire outbreak. These hazards can be natural or caused by human activities.

SIDO market buildings on fire in Mbeya in 2018

Natural Fire Hazards

Natural fire hazards often occur in dense forests, such as in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil or in the forests of East and Northeast Victoria Province in Australia. These hazards are more common during dry seasons. The sources of natural fires include:

1. Volcanic eruptions
2. Lightning
3. Intense heat from the atmosphere, which helps fires spread more easily.

Lightning and extreme heat are the primary causes of fires in dense forests, burning materials such as wood dust, dry leaves, and grass. These nature-induced fires can spread quickly, burning large areas of forest.

Human-Caused Fire Hazards

In addition to natural sources, fire hazards are also caused by human activities, including:

1. Illegal burning of forests
2. Honey harvesting
3. Hunting
4. Smoking
5. Misuse of gas energy, oil, and electricity

Human-caused fires often occur in farms, forests, schools, and residential and commercial areas. Some examples of significant fire hazards caused by human activities include:

1. The 2017 fire at the SIDO market in Mbeya Region, which destroyed property, commercial buildings, and caused a significant loss of life.
2. The 2019 fire in Morogoro Region, where a fuel tanker overturned and spilled fuel. While people were fetching fuel, someone vandalized the tanker's battery, causing sparks that ignited the fire. The entire tanker exploded, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 people, damaging property, and polluting the environment.
3. The 2018 fire at Mihayo Secondary School in Tabora Region, which caused significant damage.

Effects of Fire Hazards

Fire is among the most dangerous incidents in the society. The following are the effects of fire hazards to society:

1. It causes death and temporary or permanent disabilities to humans and other creatures. For example, fire that occurred in Morogoro in 2019 resulted in the loss of more than 100 people;
2. Fire destroys property and infrastructure such as electric poles, oil and gas reserves. For example, fire outbreak that happened in Morogoro in 2019 destroyed property such as motorbikes, bicycles and cars;
3. The top layer of soil loses its ability to absorb and retain water for a long time. Fire causes the soil to become dry and develops cracks, thus failing to store water. The ground loses its cohesiveness and thus triggers landslide and floods;
4. Increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere: When forests burn, they emit carbon dioxide that contributes significantly to the increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases that cause climate change;
5. Destruction of wildlife and biodiversity: Wildfires cause extinction of some species and destroy wildlife habitats. For example, frequent fires in Mount Kilimanjaro National Park and other wildlife conservation areas destroy animal habitats and cause deaths to wildlife;
6. Fire causes suspension of social services such as schools, airports, and hospitals, thus affecting the whole community; and
7. Fire causes unemployment if the workplace is completely burned down. For example, when the Mwanjelwa and SIDO markets in Mbeya Region as well as the Samunge market in Arusha Region were burnt, many people lost their businesses and jobs.

Principles of Firefighting and Rescue Operations

According to the Fire and Rescue Force Act No. 14 of 2007, the Fire and Rescue Force is responsible for extinguishing fires and saving lives and property, as well as dealing with any non-criminal emergencies. Regulations on firefighting and rescue services were formulated to support the rescue team and the rescued. For a successful rescue, the Fire and Rescue Force should cooperate with the community. The following are the principles to be followed in order to save lives and property during a fire outbreak:

1. Ring bells, push fire alarms or scream loudly for help from other users of the building;
2. Get out and call the Fire and Rescue Force's emergency number for further assistance. The emergency call number for Tanzania is 114;
3. You can use the available fire extinguishers to start extinguishing the fire as long as they are appropriate for use for the particular type of the fire source;
4. Note that, it is important to switch off electricity before starting extinguishing fire whose source is electricity. If it is not possible to switch off the main switch, then use dry sand, a carbon dioxide or dry powder fire extinguisher;
5. People who are not involved in firefighting are advised to run to a special open place so that it becomes easier for the rescue team to know their number and where they are placed for evacuation;
6. When extinguishing fire, make sure the rear door is kept open so that if you fail to extinguish the fire you can easily escape;
7. Once smoke increases, try to crawl while facing downwards to prevent poisonous fumes from getting into your nostrils; and if possible, put on a face filter mask;
8. It is not recommended to go back to the burning building if the situation is still unsafe;
9. If attempts to get out are completely impossible, close the door and seal the bottom of the door with a damp cloth; and
10. Stand near the window and wrap a white cloth to indicate your presence and ask or cry out for help

How to Get Involved in Preventing Fire Hazards

In order to respond effectively to fire hazards, various methods can be employed based on the location and source of the fire. It is important to adhere to environmental regulations and precautions to avoid causing a fire. Some key precautions include:

1. Avoid smoking in high-risk areas, such as petroleum stations, food warehouses, transportation facilities, and large forests.
2. Cigarette filters can also cause fires if not properly extinguished and disposed of in special containers.

To reduce the risk of fire hazards, we are advised to:

1. Avoid using electrical and gas equipment that has not been properly checked before use.
2. Avoid using poor-quality electronic devices.
3. Ensure that all repairs and check-ups are performed by trained and professional experts.
4. Use only approved electronic devices.
5. Inspect all electronic devices, such as irons, gas cylinders, electric cables, cell phones, radios, televisions, and refrigerators, to ensure they are in good condition before use.
6. Regularly inspect the electrical wiring system of buildings.