Rains claim one life, village in danger

AT least one life is believed to have been lost because of heavy rains pummeling some areas in the North, while at least one village is said to be in danger of being swamped by flood waters.

The Police reported yesterday that a one-year-old child at Oshuundje village near Onandjaba died after the wall of his mother’s home collapsed on him because of the heavy rains. Meanwhile, Oshana Regional Governor Clemence Kashuupulwa yesterday warned that a small bridge at Ompundja could collapse at any time.He said water was racing over the Ompundja bridge at high speed and if this continued, the village of Ompundja could be destroyed.Kashuupulwa was briefing the media on a flood assessment carried out by a team comprised of representatives of the Oshana Regional Council, Oshakati Municipality, Oshana Police and Roads Authority.A small bridge on the Okatana-Endola road has already collapsed because of flooding.Kashuupulwa said they had visited all affected localities in and around Oshakati.So far, the Oshoopala location has been mostly severely affected, followed by Oneshila.Others are Kandjegedi and Uupundi.The Governor put the total number of people at Oshakati affected by flooding at around 3 000 people, with about 500 severely affected.He said a committee had been established to come up with immediate measures to help those affected.Kashuupulwa said where bridges had been destroyed, emergency crossings would be put up as they did not want people to be completely cut off.He said the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) had been asked to assist with this as they had the capacity and materials.Kashuupulwa said Ongwediva and Ondangwa were less affected by the flooding.”They should send us helicopters,” said a young man from Uupindi location.Kashuupulwa said the committee had already identified places for the relocation of flood-affected people.These are the Ongwediva Trade Fair Centre, Unam Campus at Oshakati, Ehenye village and at several community centres at Oshakati.Kashuupulwa said if flooding continued, there was a risk of water-borne diseases.”And we have approached health authorities to look into that,” he said.He urged people to be calm, saying the situation was being monitored.The Governor added that it would also be appropriate if central Covernment could send them helicopters to monitor the flood.He then appealed to parents to ensure that children who are in Grades and 1 and 2 are taken to school and collected again, as the flood waters could cost them their lives.* Additional reporting by Denver Isaacs.Meanwhile, Oshana Regional Governor Clemence Kashuupulwa yesterday warned that a small bridge at Ompundja could collapse at any time.He said water was racing over the Ompundja bridge at high speed and if this continued, the village of Ompundja could be destroyed.Kashuupulwa was briefing the media on a flood assessment carried out by a team comprised of representatives of the Oshana Regional Council, Oshakati Municipality, Oshana Police and Roads Authority.A small bridge on the Okatana-Endola road has already collapsed because of flooding.Kashuupulwa said they had visited all affected localities in and around Oshakati.So far, the Oshoopala location has been mostly severely affected, followed by Oneshila.Others are Kandjegedi and Uupundi.The Governor put the total number of people at Oshakati affected by flooding at around 3 000 people, with about 500 severely affected.He said a committee had been established to come up with immediate measures to help those affected.Kashuupulwa said where bridges had been destroyed, emergency crossings would be put up as they did not want people to be completely cut off. He said the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) had been asked to assist with this as they had the capacity and materials.Kashuupulwa said Ongwediva and Ondangwa were less affected by the flooding.”They should send us helicopters,” said a young man from Uupindi location.Kashuupulwa said the committee had already identified places for the relocation of flood-affected people.These are the Ongwediva Trade Fair Centre, Unam Campus at Oshakati, Ehenye village and at several community centres at Oshakati.Kashuupulwa said if flooding continued, there was a risk of water-borne diseases.”And we have approached health authorities to look into that,” he said.He urged people to be calm, saying the situation was being monitored.The Governor added that it would also be appropriate if central Covernment could send them helicopters to monitor the flood.He then appealed to parents to ensure that children who are in Grades and 1 and 2 are taken to school and collected again, as the flood waters could cost them their lives.* Additional reporting by Denver Isaacs.