Ongoing heavy rains in parts of Tanzania have damaged roads and submerged bridges in some parts of the east African country, an official said on Sunday.

Axar.az reports citing Xinhua.

The highway connecting the commercial capital Dar es Salaam and upcountry regions to the north was temporarily closed on Saturday after a bridge was submerged in Coast region, said Solomon Mwangamilo, in charge of Tanga region traffic officer.

He said passengers and other motorists travelling between Dar es Salaam and upcountry regions and vice-versa were stranded for hours after floods caused by the heavy rains submerged the Wami River Bridge at Mandera on the Coast-Tanga regions border.

Mwangamilo advised the motorists using that highway to divert through Handeni town in Tanga region for their safety.

"The water level over the Wami River Bridge has been rising following heavy rains that pounded the area on Saturday afternoon," said the official.

"We have closed the Mkata route, and directed all vehicles heading to Korogwe and other northern parts of the country to divert through Handeni because the section over the Wami Bridge is impassable," Mwangamilo said.

On Friday, the Tanzania Meteorological Authority said the country will experience heavy rains that might cause floods leading to disease outbreaks in at least 13 administrative regions.