Mariental flooded after cloudburst
The sandbanks supposed to protect Mariental from flooding gave in after a two-hour cloudburst yesterday morning.
03 April 2020 | Disasters
ELLANIE SMIT
MARIENTAL
Major flooding was experienced at Mariental yesterday morning after 120 mm of rain fell within a two-hour period.
The rain started at about 08:00 and lasted until 10:00. By early yesterday afternoon the sun was shining brightly once again over the town.
Mariental CEO Paulus Nghiwilepo told Namibian Sun that the Aub River came down and broke its banks.
That resulted in the collapse of the sandbanks that had been built to protect the town from flooding.
“We are now just trying to manage the situation and warning people to evacuate if it is needed,” Nghiwilepo said. According to him the people that might have to evacuate are those living west of the railway. “It has stopped raining now, but if need be we can accommodate people in school hostels as these are currently empty.” He further said that rental houses at the former ostrich farm were flooded and the council was considering where to accommodate the people living there. Nghiwilepo said the damage caused by the flooding had not been assessed yet. He said it is a priority to build a dyke to protect the town from future flooding.
MARIENTAL
Major flooding was experienced at Mariental yesterday morning after 120 mm of rain fell within a two-hour period.
The rain started at about 08:00 and lasted until 10:00. By early yesterday afternoon the sun was shining brightly once again over the town.
Mariental CEO Paulus Nghiwilepo told Namibian Sun that the Aub River came down and broke its banks.
That resulted in the collapse of the sandbanks that had been built to protect the town from flooding.
“We are now just trying to manage the situation and warning people to evacuate if it is needed,” Nghiwilepo said. According to him the people that might have to evacuate are those living west of the railway. “It has stopped raining now, but if need be we can accommodate people in school hostels as these are currently empty.” He further said that rental houses at the former ostrich farm were flooded and the council was considering where to accommodate the people living there. Nghiwilepo said the damage caused by the flooding had not been assessed yet. He said it is a priority to build a dyke to protect the town from future flooding.
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