DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rains have destroyed at least 8,652 hectares of paddy and maize field in Tanzania's eastern region of Morogoro, leaving 6,300 people homeless, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Steven Kebwe, the Morogoro regional commissioner, said the rains have caused flash floods in Kilosa district where more than 1,600 houses have been damaged.

"The Morogoro regional authorities in collaboration with Kilosa district authorities have started taking precaution measures against epidemics such as cholera," Kebwe told the region's defense and security committee.

He added that authorities were also organizing the acquisition of relief supplies to the victims sheltered in schools and churches.

Last week, heavy rains left at least 2,500 people homeless after they had destroyed 106 houses in Tanzania's central region of Dodoma.

Simon Odunga, Chemba District Commissioner in Dodoma Region, said the heavy rains mostly affected three villages of Mrijo Chini, Kaloleni and Olborot.

"Most of the houses in these villages have been destroyed, leaving over 2,500 people homeless," Odunga told a news conference in Chemba district.

Odunga said most of the victims were being sheltered by relatives and friends, with some accommodated in special camps.

He said the victims, including children and women, were in dire need of humanitarian assistance, including medicines, mattresses as well as food.