Phikwe, Mmadinare, Moreomabele Flooded

Staff Writer | Monday February 3, 2014 16:15

he town of Selebi-Phikwe, as well as the villages of Mmadinare, Moreomabele and Damchujena were battling floodwaters that left havoc in their wake.

Bonwatlou River in Mmadinare also over flooded and washed away the bridge rendering the village inaccessible. The water then started flowing into the homesteads by the riverbanks. However, any assistance to the affected families whose huts collapsed was impossible as the bridge is the only point of entry into the village.

Affected families were evacuated to the community hall. Tonota Sub-District Commissioner Khumo Keeng explained that 15 families and 42 victims were identified by Saturday morning. Disaster management office dispatched an airboat from Gaborone to Serule that could be used to ferry tents and food to the flood victims. Keeng said Botswana Defence Force also promised to assist with their excavator to repair the bridge. He explained that evacuation of flood victims in Serule started around 11 am on Friday and some victims resisted until they were threatened by the police. A team of social workers was on the ground even on Saturday to assess the extent of damage and identify more victims.

The District Commissioner who is also chairman of the Disaster Management Committee said only five families were evacuated to the community hall because while they managed to secure tents it was impossible to pitch them as the ground was still extremely wet. He acknowledged that the hall was not conducive for human occupancy as they had no water or pit latrines but said it was the best they could do at that moment. 'We have since decided to relocate them to the local church that has basic amenities,' he added. The affected families had to collect rainwater that had formed puddles in the hall premises to flush the toilets. In Moreomabele the floods destroyed houses and washed away the railway line halting movement of trains. The Botswana Railway officials were still on the ground on Saturday to repair the railway line.

Access into Damuchujena village was also impossible by Friday afternoon as some parts of the bridge was also washed away. However movement resumed the next day as travellers improvised to use the part that was not damaged.

Selebi-Phikwe was also not spared the flood misery as some homes in Phase 1 and Botshabelo were destroyed forcing authorities to convene an urgent disaster management meeting on Saturday and evacuation of victims. Some parts of Selebi-Phikwe/Serule road were also flooded as water crossed over the road forcing drivers to exercise extreme caution.

The water then started flowing into the homesteads by the riverbanks. However, any assistance to the affected families whose huts collapsed was impossible as the bridge is the only point of entry into the village. Affected families were evacuated to the community hall. Tonota Sub-District Commissioner Khumo Keeng explained that 15 families and 42 victims were identified by Saturday morning.

Disaster management office dispatched an airboat from Gaborone to Serule that could be used to ferry tents and food to the flood victims. Keeng said Botswana Defence Force also promised to assist with their excavator to repair the bridge. He explained that evacuation of flood victims in Serule started around 11 am on Friday and some victims resisted until they were threatened by the police. A team of social workers was on the ground even on Saturday to assess the extent of damage and identify more victims.The District Commissioner who is also chairman of the Disaster Management Committee said only five families were evacuated to the community hall because while they managed to secure tents it was impossible to pitch them as the ground was still extremely wet.

He acknowledged that the hall was not conducive for human occupancy as they had no water or pit latrines but said it was the best they could do at that moment. 'We have since decided to relocate them to the local church that has basic amenities,' he added. The affected families had to collect rainwater that had formed puddles in the hall premises to flush the toilets. In Moreomabele the floods destroyed houses and washed away the railway line halting movement of trains. The Botswana Railway officials were still on the ground on Saturday to repair the railway line. Access into Damuchujena village was also impossible by Friday afternoon as some parts of the bridge was also washed away.

However movement resumed the next day as travellers improvised to use the part that was not damaged. Selebi-Phikwe was also not spared the flood misery as some homes in Phase 1 and Botshabelo were destroyed forcing authorities to convene an urgent disaster management meeting on Saturday and evacuation of victims. Some parts of Selebi-Phikwe/Serule road were also flooded as water crossed over the road forcing drivers to exercise extreme caution.