Staff Reporter
The Zambezi, Kavango and Kunene rivers have experienced significant rises in water levels and flow rates since the beginning of this month; communities in surrounding areas are therefore urged to remain alert for potential flooding.
According to the Hydrological Services of Namibia, the Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo continues its upward trend, reaching a steady level of 4.67 metres on the morning of Wednesday, 9 April 2025—an increase from the 4.50 metres recorded on 1 April.
“The river level has surpassed the 4-metre threshold, meaning that water is pushing into the eastern Zambezi floodplains. Early flood alerts and readiness are advised for the eastern Zambezi floodplains,” the Hydrological Services of Namibia added.
Meanwhile, the water level of the Okavango River at Rundu rose from 6.32 metres on 1 April to 7.05 metres by the morning of Tuesday, 8 April, and further to 7.21 metres on Wednesday, 9 April 2025. The Kunene River at Ruacana has also seen a notable increase in flow, rising from 934.30 cubic metres per second (m³/s) on 1 April to 1,579.4 m³/s by Wednesday.
“Given the forecast of normal to above-normal rainfall, it is highly advisable to activate multi-hazard contingency plans for flood risk mitigation and recovery in Namibia’s flood-prone areas,” the Hydrological Services of Namibia added.
Picture for illustrative purposes only.
