Rundu:A 14-year-old girl drowned in the Kavango River at Mabiye village in the Rundu district on Saturday while reportedly fishing with five other minor girls.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the incident was confirmed by the Namibian Police Force crime investigations coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Moses Simaho, on Sunday. The deceased, identified as Salome Nanonge, a resident of Tuhingireni, reportedly entered the river with the five other girls at around 14h00. They were caught by strong currents, and while the five girls managed to reach the shore, Nanonge disappeared from sight.

A search operation was launched and continued into Sunday, when Nanonge's body was discovered floating in the river at approximately 12h00. The body was found about 500 meters from the initial location, near the old crossing bridge to Calai on the Angolan side of the river.

Deputy Commissioner Simaho reported that no suspicious injuries or marks were observed on Nanonge's body. The body was transported to the Rundu State Hospital mortuary, where it is being kept pending a post-mortem examination. Her next of kin have been informed, and police investigations into the incident are ongoing.