Lucky escape after power cables crash into family's home
A family of nine at Oshaakondwa village in the Oshikoto Region narrowly escaped with their lives on Sunday when a wooden utility pole with live power cables collapsed onto their homestead during a heavy rainstorm and strong winds.
Apart from the emotional shock, no one was physically harmed.
The incident occurred around 15:00, just after the family had finished their Sunday lunch.
Soini Nelago, who lives with her three sisters and their children in the homestead, said it was raining heavily when they heard a loud crash.
“We quickly came out of our rooms and we saw the electricity cables lying in our homestead. It damaged the shack and the corrugated iron sheets that serve as our homestead boundary,” Nelago said.
“I immediately told everyone to follow me to the neighbour’s house where we went [for] shelter and subsequently informed Nored about the incident."
She said the power company officials warned the family to stay away from the house.
“We were informed not to go near the house since electricity is dangerous. I just thank God that no one was near the kitchen area and that the property did not catch a fire,” she said.
Help needed
When asked why they had built their homestead so close to the power line, Nelago said they had assumed the six-metre distance was safe.
“Now we know that it is dangerous and we will move our homestead from its current position and move to a safer area,” she said.
Nelago called upon good Samaritans to assist with building materials in order for the family to replace the damaged property.
“We will move. We are calling on those who can assist us because some of the property we have is fixed, which we will have to leave behind or demolish.”
Safety rules
When contacted for comment, Nored spokesperson Simon Lukas said it is illegal to build under a power line. He advised contacting Nored for proper guidance when erecting new structures.
Lukas recommended maintaining a distance of at least nine metres.
“Building near or under the power line is illegal and it is a safety violation. We are always encouraging people who intend to build any structure next to or nearby our line to always contact us to get the recommended distance, which is at least nine or 10 metres away from the line,” Lukas said.
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Apart from the emotional shock, no one was physically harmed.
The incident occurred around 15:00, just after the family had finished their Sunday lunch.
Soini Nelago, who lives with her three sisters and their children in the homestead, said it was raining heavily when they heard a loud crash.
“We quickly came out of our rooms and we saw the electricity cables lying in our homestead. It damaged the shack and the corrugated iron sheets that serve as our homestead boundary,” Nelago said.
“I immediately told everyone to follow me to the neighbour’s house where we went [for] shelter and subsequently informed Nored about the incident."
She said the power company officials warned the family to stay away from the house.
“We were informed not to go near the house since electricity is dangerous. I just thank God that no one was near the kitchen area and that the property did not catch a fire,” she said.
Help needed
When asked why they had built their homestead so close to the power line, Nelago said they had assumed the six-metre distance was safe.
“Now we know that it is dangerous and we will move our homestead from its current position and move to a safer area,” she said.
Nelago called upon good Samaritans to assist with building materials in order for the family to replace the damaged property.
“We will move. We are calling on those who can assist us because some of the property we have is fixed, which we will have to leave behind or demolish.”
Safety rules
When contacted for comment, Nored spokesperson Simon Lukas said it is illegal to build under a power line. He advised contacting Nored for proper guidance when erecting new structures.
Lukas recommended maintaining a distance of at least nine metres.
“Building near or under the power line is illegal and it is a safety violation. We are always encouraging people who intend to build any structure next to or nearby our line to always contact us to get the recommended distance, which is at least nine or 10 metres away from the line,” Lukas said.
[email protected]
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