Govt seeks public help in floods probe

GOVERNMENT has asked the public to help with an investigation into the floods that have occurred in central Namibia over the past two months.

As part of an investigation into the Fish River floods that destroyed vast irrigation crops and property in Mariental a month ago, the Department of Hydrology will also be investigating flooding along the Kuiseb, Oanob and Tsauchab rivers during February. Farmers in particular are being requested to provide any rainfall information and other observations of damage and inundation caused by these rivers to the Hydrology Department.The main area of investigation is west of a north-south line from Okahandja to Windhoek, Kalkrand and Mariental, but other places in Namibia may also be of relevance.Earlier this month, President Hifikepunye Pohamba ordered the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry to investigate the causes of the Mariental flood and come up with measures to prevent or lessen the impact of future floods.Deputy Director of Hydrology Guido Van Langenhove, who is leading the investigation, said the study would aim to measure the magnitude and frequency of rainfall in the catchment areas, so that it could be determined how often such floods might recur.Van Langenhove said he did not expect the investigation to last longer than a month.People living west of the line from Okahandja to Mariental who have taken rainfall measurements or have observed exceptional flooding are asked to contact the Department.The most useful information is rainfall measurements since the beginning of January, particularly the last week of February, with details on the date and duration of the rainfall.Systematic records indicating how exceptional recent events were, or how long it has been since they occurred with the same magnitude, would also be useful.The Hydrology Department is also looking for information on floods and wash-aways.Those with information that can assist the flood assessment are asked to contact either Ottilie Angula, tel.(061) 208 7195, e-mail: AngulaO@mawrd.gov.na or Titus Endjala, tel.(061) 208 7261, e-mail: EndjalaT@mawrd.gov.na or Guido van Langenhove, tel.(061) 208 7257, e-mail: gvl@mawrd.gov.naFarmers in particular are being requested to provide any rainfall information and other observations of damage and inundation caused by these rivers to the Hydrology Department.The main area of investigation is west of a north-south line from Okahandja to Windhoek, Kalkrand and Mariental, but other places in Namibia may also be of relevance.Earlier this month, President Hifikepunye Pohamba ordered the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry to investigate the causes of the Mariental flood and come up with measures to prevent or lessen the impact of future floods.Deputy Director of Hydrology Guido Van Langenhove, who is leading the investigation, said the study would aim to measure the magnitude and frequency of rainfall in the catchment areas, so that it could be determined how often such floods might recur.Van Langenhove said he did not expect the investigation to last longer than a month.People living west of the line from Okahandja to Mariental who have taken rainfall measurements or have observed exceptional flooding are asked to contact the Department.The most useful information is rainfall measurements since the beginning of January, particularly the last week of February, with details on the date and duration of the rainfall.Systematic records indicating how exceptional recent events were, or how long it has been since they occurred with the same magnitude, would also be useful.The Hydrology Department is also looking for information on floods and wash-aways.Those with information that can assist the flood assessment are asked to contact either Ottilie Angula, tel.(061) 208 7195, e-mail: AngulaO@mawrd.gov.na or Titus Endjala, tel.(061) 208 7261, e-mail: EndjalaT@mawrd.gov.na or Guido van Langenhove, tel.(061) 208 7257, e-mail: gvl@mawrd.gov.na