Weather stations vandalised
No weather warnings in place
After good rains in southern Angola, there is now a risk of flooding in the central-northern areas of Namibia. Useful data from automated weather stations can be helpful in such situations and provide early warning to the rural population.However, most of these new weather stations have been destroyed by vandals. This was announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, on social media yesterday. “We had stations for all rivers, including those in the central north. Many stations have been destroyed or equipment stolen. The early warning system that is so important for the impending efundjas is no longer working,” the minister wrote.
When there is good rainfall, the depressions (oshanas) in the so-called Cuvelai system fill up. When they overflow, the water continues to flow in rivulets southeast as far as Namibia, where it fills the Oshanas. This can also cause flooding (efundja).
A hydrologist in the Ministry of Agriculture warned of this. An NBC report this week also quoted Leonard Hango as warning against efundjas. The water would come from Ondjiva and Namacunde in southern Angola near the border with Namibia.