Caution urged as northern residents navigate rising waters
Increasing water levels pose risk of drownings, warns hydrologist
A Namibian hydrologist has urged residents to take maximum precautions to ensure the safety of children, the elderly and the community as a whole.
Senior hydrologist Leonard Hango in the agriculture ministry has urged residents in flood-prone areas of the northern regions to exercise extreme caution when navigating oshanas, especially in the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin area.
Speaking to Namibian Sun this week, Hango explained that water levels in the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin continue to rise due to local rainfall and surface flow from Angola.
He said these inflows qualify as floodwater in the regions of Ohangwena (on the western side), Omusati, Oshikoto (on the western side), and the entire Oshana Region and poses a great risk of accidental drownings.
Hango said the basin has received good rainfall on both the Namibian and Angolan sides.
The hydrologist added that he had also spoken to regional police commander, Commissioner Naftal Lungameni Sakaria, to ensure the public is made aware that water levels are rising in many of the region's streams and oshanas.
“This is especially [to create awareness] for children crossing [these areas] either going to or from school. And our elderly members of the society, as well as people who frequent cuca shops and who only return home late crossing water streams,” he said.
Hango warned that water levels can change at any time, and residents should not assume that water levels will remain the same once they have crossed a certain area.
He said the rainy season is not over yet and water levels will continue to rise.
“We are blessed by the high God to say we have good rainfall this year. As we embrace it, let us exercise maximum precautions,” Hango stressed.
Speaking to Namibian Sun this week, Hango explained that water levels in the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin continue to rise due to local rainfall and surface flow from Angola.
He said these inflows qualify as floodwater in the regions of Ohangwena (on the western side), Omusati, Oshikoto (on the western side), and the entire Oshana Region and poses a great risk of accidental drownings.
Hango said the basin has received good rainfall on both the Namibian and Angolan sides.
The hydrologist added that he had also spoken to regional police commander, Commissioner Naftal Lungameni Sakaria, to ensure the public is made aware that water levels are rising in many of the region's streams and oshanas.
“This is especially [to create awareness] for children crossing [these areas] either going to or from school. And our elderly members of the society, as well as people who frequent cuca shops and who only return home late crossing water streams,” he said.
Hango warned that water levels can change at any time, and residents should not assume that water levels will remain the same once they have crossed a certain area.
He said the rainy season is not over yet and water levels will continue to rise.
“We are blessed by the high God to say we have good rainfall this year. As we embrace it, let us exercise maximum precautions,” Hango stressed.
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Namibian Sun
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