[We are experiencing a lot of rain this year in Southern Africa. It is almost like in 1986 when we had floods here. Jan]

MARIENTAL was plunged into chaos this weekend when an overflowing Hardap Dam flooded half the town, as well as a number of farms and plantations at the nearby Hardap Irrigation Scheme.

Residents and rescue workers spoken to over the weekend all agree that the flood is much worse than the one that hit the town in 2000, which cost the insurance industry an estimated N$30 to N$35 million in insurance claims.

Following the flood of 2000, a flood-risk evaluation done by the insurance industry stated that if a similar disaster occurred in less than 20 years, the industry would not be able to absorb losses higher than N$20 million.

The first flooding of the southern town occurred in 1972 when the Hardap Dam sluices opened fully, 10 years after the dam was built in 1962.

Flooding again occurred in 1974 and 1976.

Between Friday evening and Sunday morning, an estimated 122 houses and 78 businesses in the Central Business District in the western part of town were almost completely submerged.

Their residents were forced to seek shelter in school hostels or to move in with friends and relatives in higher-lying areas.

The town was left with a transport problem, as all filling stations had been flooded and the main street turned into a river.

Traffic on Namibia’s main north-south highway was brought to a standstill, not only trapping people in Mariental, but also leaving rows of cars and trucks to and from South Africa stranded.

Municipality CEO Paul Nghiwilepo reported that the road would possibly be passable by Wednesday, depending on the weather.

DAM FILLED BEYOND ITS CAPACITY

While NamWater tried to control the escalating crisis by controlling the release of water from the dam’s floodgates, the Mariental Municipality, in collaboration with a number of other stakeholders, including the Namibia Red Cross Society and the Roads Authority, set up an emergency team to manage the situation.

This team is led by the Emergency Management Unit (EMU) in the Prime Minister’s office.

The Hardap Dam’s sluice gates were first opened on Thursday after heavy rain was recorded in the entire catchment area, Nghiwilepo told The Namibian.

The dam was then 84 per cent full.

The dam level then began to lower, NamWater Area Manager Wessel Du Plessis reported to the Emergency Team on Saturday morning, until it started raining heavily in the entire catchment area between 03h00 and 06h00 on Friday.

The Hardap Dam is fed by more than eight rivers, including the Fish River, the Schlip and the Kub rivers, all of which were in full flood by that time.

By Saturday morning, the dam had reached a level of 105,4 per cent, Du Plessis then reported, and by Saturday evening the dam level had reached 110 per cent.

Another worrying factor that Du Plessis reported on Saturday was that the dam was receiving more water than was being released.

By 18h00 on Saturday, the sluice gates were releasing 3 000 cubic metres of water per second, while its inflow was 3 500 cubic metres a second.

SCHOOLS TO BE CLOSED

By yesterday afternoon, 44 people had reportedly been rescued from surrounding farms by helicopter and boat, while Defence Force members had been patrolling the flooded area of the town to keep looters from deserted houses and businesses.

By 12h00 yesterday, rescue workers had saved 30 people at a pig farm outside of Mariental, 10 at other plots, and four people from around town.

Karas Governor Katrina Hanse suggested on Saturday that arrangements be made to close the Sonop Primary School at the town for the duration of the emergency.

Those rescued have been accommodated in the school hostel, as pupils have gone home.

Asked about the security of pupils’ belongings, Nghiwilepo said that the hostel superintendents would keep an eye on the situation.

An additional benefit of closing schools, it was argued on Saturday, was that it would lighten the burden on the town’s sewage system.

“From the 2000 flood experience we can expect the sewage in the town to become affected after about the third day,” the CEO said.

Yesterday morning, the municipality started regulating the amount of water supplied to the town, as NamWater reported that they wouldn’t be able to supply running water to Mariental during the crisis.

‘NO FLIMSY MATTER’

Governor Hanse, who has taken a hands-on role in the relief operation, has called on residents of the town and surrounding areas to remain calm.

She is angry with stubborn residents who refused to be evacuated from danger areas and some unco-operative Regional Council Officials, who were reluctant to offer council vehicles.

“Some see this flood disaster as a flimsy thing, therefore I instructed everyone involved in emergency operations to handle the situation with seriousness, commitment and diligence,” she said.

“The disaster not only affects residents of the town, but all Namibians,” she added.

Hanse is continuously updating President Hifikepunye Pohamba about conditions at the town.

CURRENT SITUATION

At 09h20 yesterday, NamWater reported that the inflow of water into the Hardap Dam had slowed to 1 800 cubic metres per second from Saturday evening’s 3 500, while the sluice gates were still releasing 3 000 cubic metres per second.

A source close to the Mariental Town Council told The Namibian that NamWater could face legal action for delaying the controlled release of water from the dam.

It is believed that the Mariental Town Council charged that the delay in opening the sluices had caused the flood disaster.

According to the source, the Town Council had sent a letter to NamWater, demanding that they open the sluices or be held responsible for any losses incurred due to flooding.

The source said the flood was caused when the dam’s outflow suddenly increased from 800 to 3 500 cubic metres per second, since the Fish River can cope with only about 500 cubic metres of water per second.

Once that limit is exceeded, there is a danger of floods at Mariental.

Source: AllAfrica.Com
URL: http://allafrica.com/stories/200602270643.htm…/p>