News / Regional
Kariba floodgate to be opened on Saturday
21 Jan 2011 at 02:01hrs | Views
Kariba Dam floodgates will be opened on Saturday afternoon to eject excess water from the dam and accommodate the large volume of flows that are building in the upper part of the Zambezi catchment area.
The release of the water comes in the wake of heavy rains pounding the country, raising fears of flooding downstream.
Heavy rains being received in the Zambezi catchment areas in Namibia and Angola have necessitated the early opening of the gates.
In a statement yesterday, Zambezi River Authority said the spill gates would be opened at 12 noon to keep the lake levels within the operational range.
In an interview yesterday a senior ZRA official said the floodgates were being opened to release excess water in preparation for heavy inflows building upstream of the Victoria Falls and in Angola.
The official said the area around Kariba Dam was receiving lots of rainfall and the dam level was rising quickly.
The authority warned the public and the communities living along the Zambezi River banks to take the notice seriously to avoid loss of life and property due to flooding that might occur after the gates are opened. He said efforts were being made to ensure people living down stream were warned of the danger.
Civil Protection Unit director Mr Madzudzo Pawadyira said the unit will today dispatch officers to the area to warn people of the possible danger.
"We will also warn them against taking unnecessary risks by returning to their fields as there is a likelihood of being trapped by river throwback when the Cahora Bassa gets full," he said.
Police in Chipinge yesterday said several people in Middle Sabi, Manicaland province have been left homeless after floods destroyed their homes last week.
However, they could not give details of how many people had been affected so far.
"Floods have hit some parts of this province leaving some of the villagers homeless. As of now I don't have the figures of how many villagers have been affected," said a senior police officer in the area.
The heavy falls are expected to increase runoff into the country's major rivers.
Areas that are at risk of flooding include Muzarabani and Mbire in Mashonaland Central, part of Midlands and Matabeleland South.
The release of water into the Zambezi River is expected to worsen the situation in Mozambique where about 7 000 people are already at risk from flooding after the Limpopo River rose by two metres above the flood alert level.
The release of the water comes in the wake of heavy rains pounding the country, raising fears of flooding downstream.
Heavy rains being received in the Zambezi catchment areas in Namibia and Angola have necessitated the early opening of the gates.
In a statement yesterday, Zambezi River Authority said the spill gates would be opened at 12 noon to keep the lake levels within the operational range.
In an interview yesterday a senior ZRA official said the floodgates were being opened to release excess water in preparation for heavy inflows building upstream of the Victoria Falls and in Angola.
The official said the area around Kariba Dam was receiving lots of rainfall and the dam level was rising quickly.
The authority warned the public and the communities living along the Zambezi River banks to take the notice seriously to avoid loss of life and property due to flooding that might occur after the gates are opened. He said efforts were being made to ensure people living down stream were warned of the danger.
Civil Protection Unit director Mr Madzudzo Pawadyira said the unit will today dispatch officers to the area to warn people of the possible danger.
"We will also warn them against taking unnecessary risks by returning to their fields as there is a likelihood of being trapped by river throwback when the Cahora Bassa gets full," he said.
Police in Chipinge yesterday said several people in Middle Sabi, Manicaland province have been left homeless after floods destroyed their homes last week.
However, they could not give details of how many people had been affected so far.
"Floods have hit some parts of this province leaving some of the villagers homeless. As of now I don't have the figures of how many villagers have been affected," said a senior police officer in the area.
The heavy falls are expected to increase runoff into the country's major rivers.
Areas that are at risk of flooding include Muzarabani and Mbire in Mashonaland Central, part of Midlands and Matabeleland South.
The release of water into the Zambezi River is expected to worsen the situation in Mozambique where about 7 000 people are already at risk from flooding after the Limpopo River rose by two metres above the flood alert level.
Source - Byo24NEWS
