NAMWATER has issued a flood warning to the residents of Rehoboth.The Oanob Dam near the town was 103 per cent full at 17h00 on Tuesday and water was spilling over the wall.
The dam has no sluice gates like other major dams in the country and is designed in such a way that when it gets too full, water starts spilling over a spillway. A flood of any magnitude can therefore be routed through the dam without NamWater’s control at any time during the coming days and nights.People living downstream of the dam, especially in the low-lying areas of Rehoboth, as well as other settlements further downstream, are advised to be on the alert.People are also warned not to enter the river at any time, as the water level below the dam could rise fast without any warning.NamWater says Namibia is still within its normal rainy season and more rain and inflow into dams across the country can be expected.A flood of any magnitude can therefore be routed through the dam without NamWater’s control at any time during the coming days and nights.People living downstream of the dam, especially in the low-lying areas of Rehoboth, as well as other settlements further downstream, are advised to be on the alert. People are also warned not to enter the river at any time, as the water level below the dam could rise fast without any warning.NamWater says Namibia is still within its normal rainy season and more rain and inflow into dams across the country can be expected.
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