Opuwo flood survivors talk of ordeal

A MOTHER who miraculously survived the accident that killed eight people when a vehicle was swept away by a flooded river near Opuwo on Saturday, is trying to cope with the agony of losing two small children.

Tjambiru Uaungurisa (34) from Okanguati told yesterday at Opuwo that she had gone to collect Vision Muhenye (4) and Operi Muhenye (5) from Kamanjab so that they could start pre-school at Okanguati yesterday.

The two children died in the accident with the driver Frans Manjara, Maetusiepi Mbinge, Tjireja Efraim (5), Uapingena Thoma, Patricia Karumuani Tjindinda and Judith Mweliimbange Hamukwaya.

Tjindunda and Hamukwaya were health extension workers at the Opuwo District hospital.

They were travelling from Opuwo to Okanguati in the Toyota double-cab that was swept away on Saturday night.

Six other people including Uaungurisa survived the accident.

Speaking from her hospital bed at Opuwo District Hospital, Uaungurisa said the driver tried to stop the bakkie when he realised that the river was in flood but the brakes failed and the bakkie sped towards the river, plunging in it and was swept away.

“I held my children but the current was too strong. I realised that I could not hold them. The water snatched them from me. Since it was dark, I could not see where the water was taking them. I then started to fight for my life. I was miraculously washed out onto the river’s shallow edge where I scrambled to my feet and ran away from the river,” she recalled.

She said although it will not be easy for her to live without her children, she believes that God gave them to her and God has taken them away.

Another survivor, Patrick Michael (45) from Otjiwarongo who is a contractor at Okanguati, said he was coming from Opuwo where he had gone shopping.

Relating his lucky escape from hospital yesterday, Michael said he jumped out when he realised that the vehicle was in the river.

Since he is good at swimming as it is one of his hobbies, Michael said he fought the current and swam to safety.

“I heard people screaming everywhere. Some were calling for help as they were drowning. I also heard the sound of the bakkie as it was being washed away. I could hear it smashing against the rocks in the river,” he remembered.

His mother Franziska Aebes and his sister Elizabeth Boois who were by his bedside, said it was a blessing that Michael had survived since he is the only son in the family.

Aebes said her mother had died on Wednesday last week and will be buried at Kamanjab on Saturday.

“We could be having two funerals but God has prevented it. We thank Him for His mercy on us,” Aebes said.

Kunene regional health director Thomas Shapumba said in Tjindunda and Hamukwaya they had lost committed workers.

“This loss comes when we are struggling to get health workers. The accident robbed us of people with scarce skills. Health workers are doing excellent work in the communities by assisting the government to achieve its goals and objectives. Our prayers go to the families and friends of our beloved two health workers. May their souls rest in peace,” Shapumba said.