Heavy rainfall sweeps across large parts of Namibia

Windhoek (fs/th/sno) – Many Namibian farmers in the south of the country are delighted after being blessed with abundant rain over the Easter weekend. The Fish River is flowing in full force, including through the section known as the ‘Fish River Canyon’, offering many visitors and tourists a breathtaking sight. In addition to the Fish River Canyon, the Vleis on the Sandhof Farm are under water, and the lily fields are beginning to show their pink hues once again. Furthermore, the country’s largest freshwater reservoir, the Neckartal Dam, overflowed on Saturday due to the high inflow.

The roads between Helmeringhausen and Aus have partly turned into fast-flowing rivers. The Konkiep and Tsauchab rivers have burst their banks, blocking various roads to popular tourist destinations. Some gravel roads, particularly in the area around Sossusvlei, have been washed away, with the D463 road from Fish River Lodge to Witputz being impassable since yesterday. The D459 and D462 also remain closed for the time being.

The rainfall figures reported yesterday on ‘Rainfall Namibia’ for the south are 59 mm at Umub Ranch, 30 km north of Bethanie; 46 mm at Manubi Farm, 35 km north of Koës, and at Gocharus Farm, 40 km north of Koës; 40 mm at Vaalpan Farm, 50 km south-east of Koës; 36 mm at Nuwerus Farm, 63 km north of Koës; 32 mm at Soetdoringvlei Farm, 35 km south-east of Helmeringhausen, and 14 mm in Maltahöhe.

Meanwhile, water levels in the north-east of the country remain high, which is having a significant impact on communities along the Zambezi River in particular. Pupils from three schools in the flood-affected area of Kabbe South in the Zambezi Region have been relocated after rising water levels forced the schools to close. According to the spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, Maximus Halwoodi, it was decided that the affected pupils should be accommodated in other schools in the region. Halwoodi explained that the relocation was intended to ensure that the pupils could resume normal lessons without further delay.