New flood wave possible
Another wave of the seasonal efundja floodwater may reach northern Namibia within days.
The meteorological service has forecast heavy rainfall over the south-western parts of Angola this weekend.
This may cause serious flooding in northern Namibia, as the floodplains are already saturated with standing water.
On Tuesday, northern hydrologist Leonard Hango told Namibian Sun that if heavy rainfall occurred in southern Angola or northern Namibia, this year's efundja seasonal flood would have a significant effect.
If it rains as expected, the water levels in the Cuvelai drainage system may rise and cause another devastating flood such as the one of 2011.
The latest water levels recorded by hydrological gauging stations in the main streams feeding from the Cuvelai are: Ompundja 1.33m, Poko 1.25m, Oshuuli 1.07m, Nalumono 0.89m, Endola 0.73m, Ohaingu 0.62m, Okatana 0.62m, Onyele 0.67, Onelago 0.44m, Oneheke 0.43m, Engela 0.42m and Onembaba 0.42m.
According to the Namibian hydrological service, the Angolan water authority opened the Cuvelai floodgates on 5 March, releasing water into the Cuvelai-Etosha basin.
Last Friday evening the floodwater crossed the Namibia-Angola border into oshana shaNalumono and oshana shaKambembe. Another delayed wave of water entered Namibia east of Oshikango.
Hango said this wave came late due to dry conditions. Water is absorbed into the parched soil, recharging underground water systems first, before flowing into Namibia.
The flood has affected the Okatwitwi informal settlement at Oshikango, especially the Angolan traders who were conducting business there. A resident, Thikameni David, told Namibian Sun that the place was dry when the wave arrived, but now it is full of water leaving traders with nowhere to sell their products.
The level of the efundja so far has not been as high as predicted. Because of the drought of the past few years, water was absorbed by the dry riverbeds.
The two flood waves that reached Namibia last weekend had minimal impact.
“If it continues like this and there is not voluminous rainfall, this year's efundja will not have any real effect on communities,” Hango explained.
Hango said in Angola some areas received good rainfall while others did not receive any rain.
“The efundja is delayed because the streams are dry,” he said.
Hango said the water level near Oshikango might increase, but the levels in oshana shaNalumono and oshana shaKambembe would only rise if more rain fell.
The Cuvelai Basin is a drainage system that consists of hundreds of channels that join and separate thousands of times. Most of the channels are dry for much of the year. The flows that do occur vary between slow trickles and massive floods that slowly make their way down the drainage system.
ILENI NANDJATO
This may cause serious flooding in northern Namibia, as the floodplains are already saturated with standing water.
On Tuesday, northern hydrologist Leonard Hango told Namibian Sun that if heavy rainfall occurred in southern Angola or northern Namibia, this year's efundja seasonal flood would have a significant effect.
If it rains as expected, the water levels in the Cuvelai drainage system may rise and cause another devastating flood such as the one of 2011.
The latest water levels recorded by hydrological gauging stations in the main streams feeding from the Cuvelai are: Ompundja 1.33m, Poko 1.25m, Oshuuli 1.07m, Nalumono 0.89m, Endola 0.73m, Ohaingu 0.62m, Okatana 0.62m, Onyele 0.67, Onelago 0.44m, Oneheke 0.43m, Engela 0.42m and Onembaba 0.42m.
According to the Namibian hydrological service, the Angolan water authority opened the Cuvelai floodgates on 5 March, releasing water into the Cuvelai-Etosha basin.
Last Friday evening the floodwater crossed the Namibia-Angola border into oshana shaNalumono and oshana shaKambembe. Another delayed wave of water entered Namibia east of Oshikango.
Hango said this wave came late due to dry conditions. Water is absorbed into the parched soil, recharging underground water systems first, before flowing into Namibia.
The flood has affected the Okatwitwi informal settlement at Oshikango, especially the Angolan traders who were conducting business there. A resident, Thikameni David, told Namibian Sun that the place was dry when the wave arrived, but now it is full of water leaving traders with nowhere to sell their products.
The level of the efundja so far has not been as high as predicted. Because of the drought of the past few years, water was absorbed by the dry riverbeds.
The two flood waves that reached Namibia last weekend had minimal impact.
“If it continues like this and there is not voluminous rainfall, this year's efundja will not have any real effect on communities,” Hango explained.
Hango said in Angola some areas received good rainfall while others did not receive any rain.
“The efundja is delayed because the streams are dry,” he said.
Hango said the water level near Oshikango might increase, but the levels in oshana shaNalumono and oshana shaKambembe would only rise if more rain fell.
The Cuvelai Basin is a drainage system that consists of hundreds of channels that join and separate thousands of times. Most of the channels are dry for much of the year. The flows that do occur vary between slow trickles and massive floods that slowly make their way down the drainage system.
ILENI NANDJATO
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