A man from the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania is on the brink of tears after losing his closest family members.

Fred Mlinga tragically lost his wife and young son following a deadly natural calamity that affected many in the area.

Now a widower, Mlinga lost his wife, Esther, and his son, Emmanuel, when their house collapsed on them.

The collapse was caused by the heavy, destructive rainfall that also damaged neighboring properties.

Sorrow and agony clouded Mlinga’s face, as he was rendered homeless following the devastating downpour.

"I feel I don't recognize myself after the tragedy. I don't understand anything. Wherever I go or whatever I do, I don't feel like myself. I don't know where to start. I haven’t found the light I once had. In other words, I feel like I’m merely existing, not living. Nothing is working, and everything is really difficult right now.

The hardest part is starting over and picking myself up from the ground. I don't even know where I’ll begin to look for food, clothing, or shelter," he said heartbreakingly.

Mlinga was taken in by his brothers following the tragedy that left him without a family or a home.

He noted sadly that even the clothes he was wearing had been donated by his sympathetic brothers.

"My brothers are helping me for now. They've given me a place to sleep and clothes to wear. Everything I have right now was given to me by them.

My greatest prayer is that they might help me build a house so I can have a place to call home—a place where I can start my life again. I’ve been left alone. Everything has fallen apart," he added.

Mlinga’s pastor, Robinson Edward Moshi, expressed deep sympathy and sorrow after the loss of two congregants.

He visited Mlinga at his brother's home to console him and offer spiritual support, reflecting the love of Jesus Christ.

"We also lost several other congregants, as one of our parishes was destroyed by the heavy floods.

We thank God who continues to strengthen the family and bring comfort in this troubling time," the pastor said.

Social media users also sympathized with Mlinga, who is nursing emotional wounds that may take a long time to heal:

FredFrank-ze4vb:

"Pole sana. Mwenyezi Mungu akutie nguvu."

leokamil6284:

"Poleni sana."

MauridiJosephMasumbuko:

"Pole baba yangu."

ELIFROLAHMANONI:

"Pole sana baba. Mungu awafariji."

In a related story, grief engulfed residents of Mathare, Nairobi county, after a mother and her two children were crushed by a boulder during heavy rainfall.

The two were among six victims following the natural calamity that left many in pain and worry.

In Mukuru Kwa Reuben, one person died and 500 residents were displaced after devastating floods swept through the area.

Source: TUKO.co.ke