Windhoek: A three-year-old boy reportedly drowned at Kawulu village in the floodplains of Impalila Island in the Zambezi Region on Sunday. Namibian Police Force (NamPol) regional crime investigations coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Albius Lyomba, informed Nampa that a preliminary report from officers on the ground indicates that the drowning occurred in the morning and was reported to the Impalila Police Station later that afternoon.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the incident occurred in a river channel known as Che. It is alleged that the deceased and his four-year-old brother were playing in the river with a canoe when the incident occurred around 08h00. "The search by police and family members is ongoing," Lyomba said.

The tragedy follows another drowning incident in the same constituency on Thursday, which was caused by a hippo attack. The incident resulted in the death of 22-year-old Sikute Simakole from Zambia, whose body has been recovered. These cases contribute to a rising toll, with more than four official drownings reported to NamPol in the Zambezi Region during August alone, Lyomba said.