Risks rise along with river

RUNDU – Residents in the Kavango Region have been alerted not to swim in the flooding Okavango River.

Regional Councillor for the Rundu Rural Constituency, Herbert Shixwameni, issued the warning on Tuesday after a crocodile killed a goat just few metres from the Shipapo Wambambangandu Fish Farm at the weekend. He said it was very dangerous for both adults and children to swim in the river as the reptiles could be all over the area due to the current floods in the region.Police Inspector Sam Nawaseb said he had received reports that the number of crocodiles was on the increase.A young boy at Diyana village, some 180 kilometres east of Rundu, was reportedly killed by a crocodile last week.Meanwhile, Kavango Regional Governor, Sebastian Karupu, has advised residents to take precautions before drinking water from the river.He told the Regional Emergency Management Unit (Remu) this week that some residents who living alongside the Okavango used the water, which he feared was contaminated.Karupu advised residents to first boil the water before drinking it.Residents have also been warned to take precautions against malaria and to ask for anti-malaria tablets at local health facilities.- NampaHe said it was very dangerous for both adults and children to swim in the river as the reptiles could be all over the area due to the current floods in the region. Police Inspector Sam Nawaseb said he had received reports that the number of crocodiles was on the increase. A young boy at Diyana village, some 180 kilometres east of Rundu, was reportedly killed by a crocodile last week. Meanwhile, Kavango Regional Governor, Sebastian Karupu, has advised residents to take precautions before drinking water from the river. He told the Regional Emergency Management Unit (Remu) this week that some residents who living alongside the Okavango used the water, which he feared was contaminated. Karupu advised residents to first boil the water before drinking it. Residents have also been warned to take precautions against malaria and to ask for anti-malaria tablets at local health facilities. – Nampa

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