Africa-Press – Angola. The Government will deploy, in the next few days, a multidisciplinary team to assess the consequences and look for solutions for the overflow of the Longa River, as well as define measures to alleviate the flooding of the Quiminha dam.
The decision came from the meeting of the Multisectoral Civil Protection Commission, which took place this Tuesday, in Luanda, under the guidance of the Minister of State and head of the Military House of the President of the Republic, Francisco Pereira Furtado.
Speaking to the press, the coordinator of the Executive Secretariat of the National Civil Protection Commission, Manuel Lutango, highlighted that the work will serve to define measures for better intervention in the affected locations.
According to Manuel Lutango, there are already plans for situations of this kind, which provide for multisectoral measures to provide emergency responses to specific situations.
In the case of the Longa river, whose choke point is the town of Hogiwa, municipality of Porto Amboim, province of Cuanza-Sul, damage was identified as the partial obstruction of the National Road (EN) 100, vehicles stuck in the water currents and destruction of schools and some residences.
He reinforced that authorities have advised motorists to look for safe routes, while nearby populations are advised to leave these locations to protect their lives.
Regarding the Quiminha dam, he explained that there is still no major damage, except for the fear that has arisen, emotional issues among the population and concern from the authorities, who must change their operational methods.
He added that the dam is reaching higher levels of water retention, forcing the definition of a measure capable of relieving the pressure that the structure is suffering.
“The floodgates can be opened in a total or controlled manner, without ruling out the likelihood of flooding that will endanger around 82 hectares of farmland and neighborhoods close to the dam,” he added.
Both situations were caused by the intense rains that have been recorded in recent days.
The Quiminha dam, whose construction was completed in early 1975, is located on the Bengo River, approximately 60 kilometers from the city of Luanda.
It is an earthen dam, with a maximum height of around 40 m and a storage capacity of 1560×106 cubic meters.
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