Flood fury

WINDHOEK – The storm-ravaged capital was reduced to mayhem yesterday afternoon as a woman drowned, people had to be rescued from rivers, houses lost their foundations, walls were washed away and vehicles became stranded in churning rivers.

A woman in her 40s was found dead at the Simon de Wit Bridge in Eros yesterday afternoon, the Head of Operations (Emergency Services), Sydney Theron confirmed. Witnesses said the woman, who appeared to ignore people’s warnings, had simply walked into the river where it overflowed on Eros Road and was swept away by the current.About 22 mm of rain fell in central Katutura within just two hours, between 16h00 and 18h00, according to Jennifer Moetie of the Windhoek Meteorological Office.”But the rain is still falling and these measurements keep on changing every five minutes,” Moetie told The Namibian last night.At the Klein Windhoek river, a 33-year-old man and another passer-by, whose age is unknown, were rescued by the Windhoek Fire Brigade.”While we were setting up our equipment to rescue the man we came for, another man came floating past in the Klein Windhoek river.We managed to get both of them in time,” said Theron.A bystander who phoned The Namibian said the 33-year-old had tried to drive his car, an Opel Astra, across the raging stream.On becoming stuck, he alighted from the vehicle and, seconds later, the car was washed downriver while the man clung to a water-level marker.That is where fire brigade officers found him, and effected a dramatic rescue.A rain gauge owned by the Peters household, of Ziegler Street, Klein Windhoek, recorded 46 mm at 17h30 after being emptied in the morning.Another reading at a private residence, this time in Hochland Park, showed that 24 mm fell there yesterday afternoon to 18h00.In suburban Suiderhof, the pressure of floodwaters swept away fences and tyres were seen floating down roads.To some, the wild weather brought tragedy; to others, farce.Residents near the Avis Dam couldn’t believe their eyes yesterday evening when a motorist stopped his car next to the Klein Windhoek river, retrieved a canoe from the boot, climbed into it and sailed off downstream.The dam, practically empty just a week ago, was filling up fast yesterday.Torrential rains also swamped parts of Windhoek’s biggest shopping centre, Maerua Mall.Centre manager Jannie Augustine said late in the afternoon: “The water … started to come in but … we’ve managed to get it all under control now”.Rushing waters forced the closure of the Gamsberg Pass yesterday afternoon, according to a NamWater spokesperson.Windhoek businessman Jaco Kruger said Mandume Ndemufayo Road was flooded and the Speedy Exhaust motor repair shop in the Southern Industrial Area sustained extensive rain damage.According to emergency officer Theron, up to 15 reports of flooded housing were reported to the fire brigade between 16h00 and 19h00.Some Windhoek neighbourhoods, among them the suburb of Rhino Park, were particularly hard hit by floods.Overflow from a blocked storm water drain poured into Pombili Itewa’s home in Elephant Street.Soon after the initial downpour, his house was flooded and parts of the foundations were washed away.The gushing water also flattened his neighbour’s fence.Another Rhino Park also suffered flood damage.As his wife, clutching a broom, battled desperately to stop floodwaters entering their home, the householder, Andries Visagie, said: “The drains in my yard overflowed and the water started coming into my yard.Now I have a dam behind my house”.Air Traffic Control at the Eros Airport confirmed that the bad weather had delayed some incoming flights.”The aircraft have had to divert to the Windhoek International Airport, and most of them are now waiting there for the weather to improve,” a traffic control officer said.Witnesses said the woman, who appeared to ignore people’s warnings, had simply walked into the river where it overflowed on Eros Road and was swept away by the current. About 22 mm of rain fell in central Katutura within just two hours, between 16h00 and 18h00, according to Jennifer Moetie of the Windhoek Meteorological Office. “But the rain is still falling and these measurements keep on changing every five minutes,” Moetie told The Namibian last night. At the Klein Windhoek river, a 33-year-old man and another passer-by, whose age is unknown, were rescued by the Windhoek Fire Brigade. “While we were setting up our equipment to rescue the man we came for, another man came floating past in the Klein Windhoek river. We managed to get both of them in time,” said Theron. A bystander who phoned The Namibian said the 33-year-old had tried to drive his car, an Opel Astra, across the raging stream. On becoming stuck, he alighted from the vehicle and, seconds later, the car was washed downriver while the man clung to a water-level marker. That is where fire brigade officers found him, and effected a dramatic rescue. A rain gauge owned by the Peters household, of Ziegler Street, Klein Windhoek, recorded 46 mm at 17h30 after being emptied in the morning. Another reading at a private residence, this time in Hochland Park, showed that 24 mm fell there yesterday afternoon to 18h00. In suburban Suiderhof, the pressure of floodwaters swept away fences and tyres were seen floating down roads. To some, the wild weather brought tragedy; to others, farce. Residents near the Avis Dam couldn’t believe their eyes yesterday evening when a motorist stopped his car next to the Klein Windhoek river, retrieved a canoe from the boot, climbed into it and sailed off downstream. The dam, practically empty just a week ago, was filling up fast yesterday. Torrential rains also swamped parts of Windhoek’s biggest shopping centre, Maerua Mall. Centre manager Jannie Augustine said late in the afternoon: “The water … started to come in but … we’ve managed to get it all under control now”. Rushing waters forced the closure of the Gamsberg Pass yesterday afternoon, according to a NamWater spokesperson. Windhoek businessman Jaco Kruger said Mandume Ndemufayo Road was flooded and the Speedy Exhaust motor repair shop in the Southern Industrial Area sustained extensive rain damage. According to emergency officer Theron, up to 15 reports of flooded housing were reported to the fire brigade between 16h00 and 19h00. Some Windhoek neighbourhoods, among them the suburb of Rhino Park, were particularly hard hit by floods. Overflow from a blocked storm water drain poured into Pombili Itewa’s home in Elephant Street. Soon after the initial downpour, his house was flooded and parts of the foundations were washed away. The gushing water also flattened his neighbour’s fence. Another Rhino Park also suffered flood damage. As his wife, clutching a broom, battled desperately to stop floodwaters entering their home, the householder, Andries Visagie, said: “The drains in my yard overflowed and the water started coming into my yard. Now I have a dam behind my house”. Air Traffic Control at the Eros Airport confirmed that the bad weather had delayed some incoming flights. “The aircraft have had to divert to the Windhoek International Airport, and most of them are now waiting there for the weather to improve,” a traffic control officer said.