Erongo rivers rage

THREE of the biggest rivers in the Erongo Region were flowing yesterday following the good rains that have been falling since last week.

According to reports, the Omaruru, Khan and Kuiseb rivers were flowing strongly yesterday morning. Usakos received a heavy downpour, ranging from 48 to 55 millimetres, on Tuesday afternoon.Within an hour, flooding washed away several shacks in lower-lying areas near the suburb of Erongosig.Acting technical head of the municipality, Sakkie Izaaks, told The Namibian that a transformer in Hakhaseb suburb had been demolished when struck by lightning, and all the town’s gravel roads washed away.The Kransberg and Khan rivers were flowing after the heavy downpour.At Omaruru, good rains since Tuesday last week have brought relief to this drought-stricken town.According to the Municipality’s technical manager, Nico Robberts, a small stream was flowing into the Omaruru River after falls of 19 mm on Tuesday last week and 14 mm on Monday.On Tuesday this week another 5 mm fell, causing the Otuvenda River to flood and the Omaruru to flow, which it was still doing yesterday morning.NamWater at Swakopmund is closely monitoring the river’s progress and hopes its waters will reach the Omdel Dam outside Henties Bay.Robberts said the exact levels of boreholes used for the town’s water supply could be established only after three weeks or so, but added that the rain had brought considerable relief.The Omaruru was last in spate two months ago, which improved the soil’s preparedness to absorb the latest falls, said Robberts.A spokesperson at the Gobabeb Training and Research Centre in the Namib Desert said yesterday that analysts were hopeful the Kuiseb River would reach there by tomorrow.Already, the river has been seen flowing through farms near the Uis Pass.Good rains were recorded at the Rostock Ritz farm on Tuesday.At Uis the water situation is still desperate, according to the Village Council.Only 12 mm of rain has been recorded as falling last Monday.Water restrictions have been in place since last year.Usakos received a heavy downpour, ranging from 48 to 55 millimetres, on Tuesday afternoon. Within an hour, flooding washed away several shacks in lower-lying areas near the suburb of Erongosig. Acting technical head of the municipality, Sakkie Izaaks, told The Namibian that a transformer in Hakhaseb suburb had been demolished when struck by lightning, and all the town’s gravel roads washed away. The Kransberg and Khan rivers were flowing after the heavy downpour. At Omaruru, good rains since Tuesday last week have brought relief to this drought-stricken town. According to the Municipality’s technical manager, Nico Robberts, a small stream was flowing into the Omaruru River after falls of 19 mm on Tuesday last week and 14 mm on Monday. On Tuesday this week another 5 mm fell, causing the Otuvenda River to flood and the Omaruru to flow, which it was still doing yesterday morning. NamWater at Swakopmund is closely monitoring the river’s progress and hopes its waters will reach the Omdel Dam outside Henties Bay. Robberts said the exact levels of boreholes used for the town’s water supply could be established only after three weeks or so, but added that the rain had brought considerable relief. The Omaruru was last in spate two months ago, which improved the soil’s preparedness to absorb the latest falls, said Robberts. A spokesperson at the Gobabeb Training and Research Centre in the Namib Desert said yesterday that analysts were hopeful the Kuiseb River would reach there by tomorrow. Already, the river has been seen flowing through farms near the Uis Pass. Good rains were recorded at the Rostock Ritz farm on Tuesday. At Uis the water situation is still desperate, according to the Village Council. Only 12 mm of rain has been recorded as falling last Monday. Water restrictions have been in place since last year.