More than 68 houses flooded

MORE than 68 houses were waterlogged after torrential rain swept through Windhoek on Wednesday, the Windhoek Municipality said yesterday.

“[The Municipality] handled 18 house floodings that were considered serious, but more than 50 calls that were not serious were received,” the City said a press release . The Municipality also confirmed reports that one woman drowned in a river in the Eros area.It said she “could not be rescued because the incident was not reported timeously”.The City extended condolences to her family members.City emergency service officers also rescued two people from swollen river channels: one at Dobra to the north of the city, and one in the Klein Windhoek river.Two vehicles were washed away by floods, the press release said.It also said the fire brigade had to put out a thatched roof that caught fire because of lightning.There were also a number of electricity failures.Lightning strikes on power lines meant that the Goreangab, Kupferberg and Lafrenz suburbs as well as the Haloid industrial area, where the Ramatex textile factory is located, were without electricity for about 45 minutes.There were also breakdowns in the electricity supply to the Avis and Okuryangava areas.The Municipality said the Avis power supply was restored on Wednesday night.The Okuryangava electricity supply was partially fixed by 16h00 yesterday, but one “supply point” was still out of action at that time.There were numerous other “isolated” power disruptions caused by the heavy water flow, the Municipality said.The press release said City authorities would put a number of measures in place to control the situation.These included closing off sections of road that were unsafe to use, intensifying traffic patrols with a special focus on stopping drivers speeding or disregarding road signs, and ensuring emergency personnel were on hand to effect rescues.The Municipality said blockages in storm water pipes, which had caused much of the flooding, were largely due to the dumping of tree branches, car body parts and other refuse in riverbeds.”We warn the culprits to refrain from such unlawful conduct,” the press release said.The Municipality also confirmed reports that one woman drowned in a river in the Eros area. It said she “could not be rescued because the incident was not reported timeously”. The City extended condolences to her family members. City emergency service officers also rescued two people from swollen river channels: one at Dobra to the north of the city, and one in the Klein Windhoek river. Two vehicles were washed away by floods, the press release said. It also said the fire brigade had to put out a thatched roof that caught fire because of lightning. There were also a number of electricity failures. Lightning strikes on power lines meant that the Goreangab, Kupferberg and Lafrenz suburbs as well as the Haloid industrial area, where the Ramatex textile factory is located, were without electricity for about 45 minutes. There were also breakdowns in the electricity supply to the Avis and Okuryangava areas. The Municipality said the Avis power supply was restored on Wednesday night. The Okuryangava electricity supply was partially fixed by 16h00 yesterday, but one “supply point” was still out of action at that time. There were numerous other “isolated” power disruptions caused by the heavy water flow, the Municipality said. The press release said City authorities would put a number of measures in place to control the situation. These included closing off sections of road that were unsafe to use, intensifying traffic patrols with a special focus on stopping drivers speeding or disregarding road signs, and ensuring emergency personnel were on hand to effect rescues. The Municipality said blockages in storm water pipes, which had caused much of the flooding, were largely due to the dumping of tree branches, car body parts and other refuse in riverbeds. “We warn the culprits to refrain from such unlawful conduct,” the press release said.