By Anna Ingwafa
OSHAKATI
Four more people drowned in the northern parts of Namibia as a result of widespread floods due to heavy rains in neighbouring Angola.
From Friday to Sunday the police at Outapi recorded three drowning incidents. The victims have been identified as: Ndeshuumba Neumbo (75) from Oipandahangano who went missing on his way to a funeral on February 1 and never reached home. His nearly decomposed body was only found in a pond last Friday; while the other two were Matheus Daniel (25) from Onawa Village, who drowned in a well; and Petrus Iileka of Empyamukuu village in Ogongo constituency who drowned when he tried to cross a pond when he was returning from a local cuca shop at the village.
According to Outapi police spokesperson, Lineekela Shikongo, Daniel was bathing near a well when he slipped and fell in. A boy, who was in Daniel’s company at the time of the accident, alerted the family members. Daniel was already dead by the time they arrived to rescue him.
In Oshana, police in Oshakati reported another case of drowning yesterday. A man was found dead in a pond behind Okave Club in Oshakati. According to the onlookers, the man was last seen alive last Friday. Sergeant Slogan Mateus of Oshana police said it is suspected that the man drowned while trying to cross the pond.
These incidents bring the death toll to 15 in less than a month.
– In a separate incident, two toddlers, both girls from Omuthitugwonyama village in Okalongo constituency, Emilia Ndapewa Sakaria Indji (3) and Marceline Naipepa Korbius (2), burnt to death when the hut they were sleeping in caught fire. Two other children survived the blaze.
The incident happened at around midnight on Sunday.
Police are investigating the cause of the fire. Joseph David (13) and Simon Ambambi (14) from Omusimboti are also receiving treatment at Oshakati State Hospital after suspected food poisoning.
The pair was sent to buy electricity at a cuca shop at Omeege village where it is alleged the shop attendant gave them sweets. A good Samaritan discovered the two boys lying on the roadside vomiting. After they related their story, he offered them fresh milk, since he was loading stock for his shop at the village.
They were taken to Oshakati State Hospital for treatment where they are reported to be in a stable condition.
Mateus said police are investigating the incident.