Chaos and tragedy amid torrential rains

Independence weekend was drenched – filled with joy and gratitude for much-needed nationwide rain – but the deluge also resulted in loss of life and widespread chaos. The long weekend was characterised by severe thunderstorms, washed-away roads and bridges, traffic congestion, vehicles engulfed and swept away in flash floods and dams receiving massive inflows.Independence Day celebrations and the inauguration of Namibia’s first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, had to be hastily relocated from the Independence Stadium in Windhoek to State House.The unusually high amounts of rain also led to tragedy.In Okahandja, the heavy rains not only caused water supply disruptions but also claimed the life of five-year-old Ingrid Maasdorp, whose body was discovered under a bridge in Veddersdal on Friday. She had been reported missing on Thursday night.On Friday, authorities temporarily closed the old B1 road between Windhoek and Okahandja at Osona as a safety precaution after a bridge sustained damage and began showing cracks. Motorists could only use the A1 highway.On Thursday, the capital experienced traffic chaos after rain gauges overflowed, with nearly 200 mm of torrential downpour recorded in some places in as little as a day. Ten vehicles were reportedly swept away by rivers in Windhoek, with reports of several others being carried off by raging waters in different parts of the country, requiring emergency rescues. Coastal towns saw flooded streets, and residents faced water supply disruptions.Quick responseThe Aris bridge, just south of Windhoek on the road to Rehoboth, suffered severe flood damage on Thursday morning, developing large cracks and forcing authorities to close it. Trucks and other vehicles travelling along the critical route from South Africa were backed up for kilometres on both sides of the bridge or had to take lengthy detours. Good Samaritans brought food and water to stranded motorists. Commuters from Rehoboth, Groot Aub and Omeya who work in Windhoek were unable to return home.Namibia’s Roads Authority urgently called in Chinese road contractor China Railways Group to construct a bypass at the bridge. The work was completed a day later, on Friday, and traffic was able to resume. Dam levels rise steeplyTen dams across the country received massive inflows. On Saturday morning, the Swakoppoort Dam overflowed after reaching 105% of its capacity. At 09:25, NamWater opened the sluice gates to manage the overflow. Just last Monday, the dam was only 39.9% full, according to NamWater’s dam bulletin.In Mariental, concerns grew over the Hardap Dam, which experienced a staggering surge in inflows, causing its water level to rise from 24.3% last Monday to 62.2% by yesterday morning. However, inflows slowed to 183 cubic meters per second yesterday after peaking at 1 143.7 cubic meters per second on Thursday. Hardap irrigation farmers were thrilled at the prospect of planting wheat this season.The Von Bach Dam near Okahandja rose to 57.6% yesterday, up from 29.4% last Monday. Meanwhile, the Omatako Dam increased from 25.8% to 33.8%.More water expectedPreviously low Gobabis dams also saw inflows, with the Otjivero Main Dam rising from 3.5% to 4.5%, the Otjivero Silt Dam increasing from 2.5% to 3.6%, and the Daan Viljoen Dam climbing from 9.1% to 10%.In the south, the Naute Dam near Keetmanshoop rose from 50.1% to 54.3%, the Neckartal Dam increased from 82% to 84.2%, and the Oanob Dam at Rehoboth saw a significant rise from 32.5% to 48.6%.According to the Namibia Meteorological Service’s weather watch, widespread thunderstorms will continue in the Kunene, Erongo, Khomas and Hardap regions.-francoise@nmh.com.na

Chaos and tragedy amid torrential rains

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-26

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Chaos and tragedy amid torrential rains

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-26

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