THE agriculture ministry last week warned members of the public in the northern regions that a bigger wave of floods was expected in the Omusati, Ohangwena and Oshana regions.
According to the ministry, this is due to floods being experienced in parts of southern Angola following heavy rains in the Cuvelai basin.
“The flood situation in the central northern area of Namibia has reached alarming levels, and citizens are advised to take precautionary measures,” the ministry said, adding that the magnitude of the floods being expected mirrors that of 2011.
The Angolan national department of water reported heavy rains and flooding at Ondjiva on 8 and 9 March, and the water in the Cuvelai channel has started rising.
The ministry has warned people not to cross rivers or flooded places to avoid the loss of lives.
Rain received in parts of southern Angola and northern Namibia since the beginning of the year has resulted in flooding in parts of the Omusati region in the past two weeks.
Although only Omusati is currently experiencing floods, Oshana, Ohangwena and parts of Oshikoto are expected to be flooded soon if heavy rains continue to fall in southern Angola as forecast by meteorological services in both countries.
The situation is going to be made worse by the opening of the sluice gates of the Gove Dam last week.
Water from the Gove Dam is expected to flood the Kunene river, which in turn will flood parts of southern Angola and the Oshana, Omusati, Ohangwena regions, as well as parts of Oshikoto.
People in Kunene, the two Kavangos and Zambezi, are also urged to be on high alert for possible flooding.
The water in the oshanas in the Omusati region have been rising since last week, an indication that more water from Angola has been flowing into Namibia.
The water flooded houses and schools, and destroyed gravel roads in the Omusati region last week.
No flood-related death has been reported so far.
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