Cloudburst floods parts of Mariental

A cloudburst over the eastern side of Mariental left houses, a golf course and ostrich farm flooded yesterday.

Mariental chief executive officer, Paul Nghiwelepo, told The Namibian an overflowing Aub River, which is close to the town, burst its banks due to the sudden heavy storm and flooded parts of the town.

“We have sand embankments in flood risk areas to prevent flooding, but the water made them collapse,” he said.

Nghiwelepo said 100 ml rainfall was recorded in the eastern side of the town in just two hours.

The council’s top administration said council emergency workers were quick to position new sand embankments to minimise floodwater damage to the town.

“The floodwater was starting to subside by yesterday late after afternoon. The worst is over now,” said the CEO.

The first flooding of the southern town occurred in 1972 when the Hardap Dam’s sluices had been opened completely 10 years after the dam was built. Floods hit the town again in 1974, 1976, 2000 and 2006.

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