Flood warning for Zambezi
ELLANIE SMIT
Thousands of villagers in the flood-prone areas of the Zambezi Region are advised to prepare for evacuation to higher ground because the level of the Zambezi River is rising rapidly.
The hydrology department of the agriculture ministry has issued a flood warning for the Zambezi Region, saying that the river has reached an alarming level and the region may expect heavy floods for the first time in four years.
It said high rainfall in the catchment area made it likely that the river would continue rising.
By Tuesday afternoon the river level stood at 5.45 metres in comparison to the previous year’s 2.78 metres. Only a week before, the level was 4.06 metres. The normal level of the river for this time of the year is 3.20 meter.
Zambezi Governor Lawrence Lawrence Sampofu said the flooding was still manageable but the river was rising fast and the worst flood in years was expected.
He said schools in the flood-prone areas of Kabbe South and Kabbe North were inaccessible by road.
Using dugout canoes comes with its own set of dangers because there are crocodiles and snakes in the river.
“We already had an incident about two weeks ago where a child was attacked by a crocodile, but luckily survived.”
He appealed to parents to accompany their children to school and keep them safe.
Sampofu said it had been agreed to keep the schools open as long as possible. Classes would likely continue until about two weeks before the end of the term on 27 April and teachers would catch up with the extra work during the holidays.
The areas worst affected by flooding include Muzii, Nankuntwe, Namiyundu, Ivilivinzi, Mpukano and Masikili. According to Sampofu 13 schools are surrounded by water.
“Clinics, schools and villages are all surrounded by water, but communities do not want to be relocated,” said Sampofu.
The regional disaster risk management unit has identified three relocation camps at Kabbe, Katima Mulilo Holy Family Mission and Lusese.
At Rundu, the level of the Okavango River has subsided since last week and on Tuesday stood at 5.79 metres. That was still higher than it was at the same time last year.
The river’s level at Nkurenkuru (2.94m) has been rising since Monday following rain in the catchment over the weekend.
Water levels in the Cuvelai Iishana are also rising due to good rainfall in the catchment.
Thousands of villagers in the flood-prone areas of the Zambezi Region are advised to prepare for evacuation to higher ground because the level of the Zambezi River is rising rapidly.
The hydrology department of the agriculture ministry has issued a flood warning for the Zambezi Region, saying that the river has reached an alarming level and the region may expect heavy floods for the first time in four years.
It said high rainfall in the catchment area made it likely that the river would continue rising.
By Tuesday afternoon the river level stood at 5.45 metres in comparison to the previous year’s 2.78 metres. Only a week before, the level was 4.06 metres. The normal level of the river for this time of the year is 3.20 meter.
Zambezi Governor Lawrence Lawrence Sampofu said the flooding was still manageable but the river was rising fast and the worst flood in years was expected.
He said schools in the flood-prone areas of Kabbe South and Kabbe North were inaccessible by road.
Using dugout canoes comes with its own set of dangers because there are crocodiles and snakes in the river.
“We already had an incident about two weeks ago where a child was attacked by a crocodile, but luckily survived.”
He appealed to parents to accompany their children to school and keep them safe.
Sampofu said it had been agreed to keep the schools open as long as possible. Classes would likely continue until about two weeks before the end of the term on 27 April and teachers would catch up with the extra work during the holidays.
The areas worst affected by flooding include Muzii, Nankuntwe, Namiyundu, Ivilivinzi, Mpukano and Masikili. According to Sampofu 13 schools are surrounded by water.
“Clinics, schools and villages are all surrounded by water, but communities do not want to be relocated,” said Sampofu.
The regional disaster risk management unit has identified three relocation camps at Kabbe, Katima Mulilo Holy Family Mission and Lusese.
At Rundu, the level of the Okavango River has subsided since last week and on Tuesday stood at 5.79 metres. That was still higher than it was at the same time last year.
The river’s level at Nkurenkuru (2.94m) has been rising since Monday following rain in the catchment over the weekend.
Water levels in the Cuvelai Iishana are also rising due to good rainfall in the catchment.
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