By: Uakutura Kambaekua

Two people have died, and one is still missing in separate river-related incidents recorded in the Kunene region in just two weeks.

According to the police report, the incidences transpired from 27 February 2022 to 14 March 2022 at Okatjetje village on the outskirts of Opuwo, Otjerunda and Oroutumba.

Confirming the incidences to The Villager on Thursday, Kunene NamPol’s regional crime investigation coordinator, deputy commissioner Paavo Iiyambo, stated that a two-year-old boy drowned at Okatjetje village last month while attempting to cross the river.

“It is alleged that the deceased attempted to follow their parents to the garden with his elder brother. He tried to cross and unfortunately drowned.

“However, the elder brother managed to cross and run to inform the parents,” said Iiyambo.

He also said that an Angolan national man died on Monday. His body was seen by a passerby flowing in the river at Otjerunda village. He said that the victim is alleged to have been intoxicated and that he was warned by his wife not to cross the river, to which he declined to listen and drowned instantly.

Iiyambo further noted that the police are still searching for a 31-year-old Angolan man who washed away in the river in the areas of Oroutumba in the Epupa constituency on Sunday.

“The incident was reported at Ehomba police station and actually happened at Oroutumba. It was alleged that a 31-year-old Angolan male drowned on 13 March 2022 at around 18h30 after he tried to cross the river to go home,” he said.

The deputy commissioner further narrated that the victim was in the company of his friend, who tried to stop him from crossing. However, the victim defied his friend’s plea and attempted to cross, resulting in his drowning.

Iiyambo said that the victim is not yet found and that only the trouser he was wearing was discovered meters away from where the incident occurred.

He further said that the rivers within the region are still active. He urged community members to exercise caution regarding crossing flooded rivers or completely stop crossing flooded rivers. He also urged community members to report such incidences on time to provide the force ample time to resolve such incidences.