Staff Reporter
THE Zambezi and Okavango rivers are experiencing a gradual rise, as indicated in Tuesday’s hydrological bulletin from Namibia’s hydrological services. At Katima Mulilo, the Zambezi River’s level increased from 1.03m to 1.33m over the past week, while the Okavango River at Rundu rose from 4.93m to 5.15m. Notably, current water levels in both rivers surpass those recorded during the same period last year.
In the southern region, the Lower Orange River’s water levels are steadily increasing, with the Blouputs hydrological station registering a level of 2.14m on Tuesday morning. The Kunene River at Ruacana is flowing at 333.80m³/s, double the flow recorded during the same period last year. The hydrological services have activated contingency planning for flood risk mitigation and recovery, urging communities in flood-prone areas to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures.
However, water dam levels present a different picture, showing a decline compared to the same time last year. The Swakoppoort Dam is currently 45.3% full, down from 72.4% last year. Other dam percentages, with last year’s figures in parentheses, include:
- Von Bach: 12.8% (30.5%)
- Omatako: 0.0% (0.4%)
- Friedenau: 56.8% (74.2%)
- Otjivero Main: 5.3% (19.7%)
- Tilda Viljoen: 15.9% (36.4%)
- Daan Viljoen: 8.4% (30.0%)
- Hardap: 18.1% (47.8%)
- Neckartal: 85.9% (93.6%)
- Naute: 44.4% (75.2%)
- Oanob: 46.4% (65.0%)
