Eenhana residents witnessed in horror how two brothers drowned in the vehicle they were driving on Friday morning.
The incident took place at 07h00 at an earth dam just behind Monte Carlo guesthouse, along Sam Nujoma Drive.
The brothers, Immanuel Tangeni and Shiwa Omwenyo Shapwanale, were fetching water to their construction project at the perennial Dam using their Toyota Hilux.
“They were reversing into the dam with two other passengers at the back on the loading box, who were to fill water into containers in the vehicle. The vehicle soon fell back first into the deep waters and the two passengers jumped out and managed to swim to safety,” reported Ohangwena region police crime coordinator deputy commissioner Zacharias Amakali.
The brick-makers brother and sister, who were both in their 20s, didn’t manage to get out of the car.
To save the brothers, police had to call in divers from Oshakati (about 100 km away) to rescue them.
Esther Shilongo was there with other spectators and described the incident as tragic.
“Hundreds of people heard of the accident and flocked to the dam and watched as the deceased helplessly struggled for their lives. There was nothing anyone could do. People just stood around the shores of the dam watching in horror until the police came hours later to retrieve their bodies,” revealed Shilongo.
The Eenhana Town Council has also sent condolences and warned residents about the dangers of the dam.
“Council is aware that some residents used to fetch water from the dam for their agricultural projects and civil and domestic work. On that note, we are advising residents to be cautious when fetching water from the dam and avoid ignoring warning signs and refrain from vandalising the signs placed on the earth dam,” cautioned Eenhana public relations officer Paul Shilongo.
This is the second drowning at the dam this year. Two young boys also drowned at the dam in May.
Source: namibian
