At least 47 people have been killed and 85 others injured amid heavy flooding and landslides in northern Tanzania, authorities said on Monday.

The government has deployed the military to help rescue hundreds of people trapped by the flooding, which has been described as the worst in years in the East African nation.

The flooding occurred near Mount Hanang in the north.

Tanzania Floods
Roads in the town of Katesh were blocked by mud and water after heavy rain in the area (AP)

Houses, roads and bridges have been destroyed, complicating ongoing rescue efforts.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is attending the UN’s Cop28 climate summit in Dubai, said she was cutting short her trip to return to Tanzania due to the tragedy.

“I send my sincere condolences to the affected families and have directed all our security forces to deploy to the area and help those affected,” she said in a video message.

Tanzania Floods
The flooding was described as the worst in years (AP)

Other East African countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan have been hit by raging floods made worse by the El Nino phenomenon.

Hundreds of people have died across the region and millions have been displaced since the heavy rains began in late October.