Windhoek: The City of Windhoek (CoW), in collaboration with Santam Namibia, unveiled flood warning and depth marker signs on Monday to improve public safety at high-risk river crossings throughout Windhoek. Speaking at the event, Windhoek Mayor Ndeshihafela Larandja said the flood risk awareness billboards mark a proactive approach to community education.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Larandja emphasized that through these billboards, the aim is to raise awareness about the causes, impacts, and preventative measures related to fire and floods. She noted that empowering citizens with knowledge is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk and promote resilience. The initiative reflects a continued effort to build a safer, more resilient, and better-prepared capital, symbolizing a shared commitment to protecting lives, property, and livelihoods.

Santam Namibia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Franco Feris highlighted the insurance company’s commitment of N. dollars 150,000 towards the installation of the critical warning and depth marker signage across flood-prone areas in Windhoek. The newly installed signs will serve as a visible reminder of these risks, particularly at the city’s most flood-prone hotspots such as Arebbusch Street (Cimbebasia), Pelican Street (Hochland Park), Nelson Mandela Avenue (Eros), Metje Street (Eros), Erosweg, and Salem Street (Dolam).

Each identified site will feature stacked warning signs and water depth markers designed to be highly visible and weather-resistant. These signs aim to alert motorists and pedestrians when riverbeds become unsafe to cross, ensuring that lives are saved during the rainy season. Feris stressed that Namibia’s risk landscape has evolved, creating risk to pedestrians and vehicle drivers, and that the initiative serves as a visible reminder of flood risks. Shifting climate patterns and rapid urbanization have significantly increased the frequency and intensity of flash floods, with more vehicles and pedestrians being washed away in riverbeds during sudden downpours.

Mayor Larandja also urged the public to refrain from vandalizing the warning signs, emphasizing their importance in public safety.