Fish River hiking trail: 'Loss of life' a risk
Multiple rescue operations launched since 1 May
Concerns have been raised regarding whether there is sufficient water to sustain the safety of hikers in the canyon, among other factors.
The environment ministry is considering whether the Fish River Canyon hiking trail should be closed, following several rescue operations conducted since the hiking season opened on 1 May.
Concerns have arisen regarding the safety of hikers in the canyon and whether there is sufficient water to sustain its operation.
Just over a week ago, a rescue operation to extract 13 people from the canyon, which lasted approximately 35 hours, was launched.
Conrad Jacobs, the national operations manager for MR24/7, which participated in the rescue operation, told Namibian Sun that those rescued groups included one individual with a broken ankle and 12 others who were ill – all of them South Africans.
Originally, they were three separate groups that had embarked on the canyon trek and had been hiking for approximately 30 kilometres.
Tough rescue logistics
Jacobs said they received the first distress call from their emergency management room in Windhoek on Sunday afternoon, 5 May.
On Monday, they still lacked a suitable helicopter, as the insurance companies would not pay for a commercial helicopter, which can cost up to about N$300 000.
“We then decided on Monday to dispatch employees of ours from Keetmanshoop to go and help with the planning of the rescue operation.”
By Tuesday around 10:00, the team had made contact with the Namibian Police's air-wing directorate, for assistance.
The police approved the use of their helicopter, and additional ambulances and emergency workers were dispatched from Windhoek to assist.
Early on Tuesday, the rescue teams entered the canyon, covering approximately 30 kilometres alongside NWR rangers to administer initial aid to the hikers.
Jacobs said the medical evacuation was successfully conducted just before sundown on Tuesday.
Increasing incidents
Namibian Sun has been informed that several rescue operations have been undertaken since the opening of the hiking trail, primarily due to hikers experiencing dehydration.
There are growing calls for the hiking trail to be closed.
The environment ministry, in collaboration with NWR, recently released a statement saying a comprehensive appraisal of water resources in Fish River Canyon showed there is sufficient water supply for the upcoming hiking season.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta, who acknowledged the recent incident, recently said he is waiting for a detailed report before making any final decisions.
I‘Disaster in the making’
Meanwhile, Fiona Nichol, in a letter to Network Media Holdings (NMH), expressed concern about the “perilous situation developing in the Fish River Canyon.
“People coming through later in the day are finding the barrels that the water marshals have left empty," she claimed.
"The existing pools are extremely low, with very high salinity and bacterial content. This, together with the very high temperatures in the canyon at the moment (40 degrees plus), is resulting in severe dehydration and gastro-intestinal problems, setting up a stage for possible fatalities. Several hikers have had to be evacuated by helicopter, and several have already taken the emergency exits.”
She added: “In a nutshell, there is not enough water. Either they should provide enough or close the canyon before there is a loss of life."
She warned: “This situation is a disaster in the making.”
Concerns have arisen regarding the safety of hikers in the canyon and whether there is sufficient water to sustain its operation.
Just over a week ago, a rescue operation to extract 13 people from the canyon, which lasted approximately 35 hours, was launched.
Conrad Jacobs, the national operations manager for MR24/7, which participated in the rescue operation, told Namibian Sun that those rescued groups included one individual with a broken ankle and 12 others who were ill – all of them South Africans.
Originally, they were three separate groups that had embarked on the canyon trek and had been hiking for approximately 30 kilometres.
Tough rescue logistics
Jacobs said they received the first distress call from their emergency management room in Windhoek on Sunday afternoon, 5 May.
On Monday, they still lacked a suitable helicopter, as the insurance companies would not pay for a commercial helicopter, which can cost up to about N$300 000.
“We then decided on Monday to dispatch employees of ours from Keetmanshoop to go and help with the planning of the rescue operation.”
By Tuesday around 10:00, the team had made contact with the Namibian Police's air-wing directorate, for assistance.
The police approved the use of their helicopter, and additional ambulances and emergency workers were dispatched from Windhoek to assist.
Early on Tuesday, the rescue teams entered the canyon, covering approximately 30 kilometres alongside NWR rangers to administer initial aid to the hikers.
Jacobs said the medical evacuation was successfully conducted just before sundown on Tuesday.
Increasing incidents
Namibian Sun has been informed that several rescue operations have been undertaken since the opening of the hiking trail, primarily due to hikers experiencing dehydration.
There are growing calls for the hiking trail to be closed.
The environment ministry, in collaboration with NWR, recently released a statement saying a comprehensive appraisal of water resources in Fish River Canyon showed there is sufficient water supply for the upcoming hiking season.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta, who acknowledged the recent incident, recently said he is waiting for a detailed report before making any final decisions.
I‘Disaster in the making’
Meanwhile, Fiona Nichol, in a letter to Network Media Holdings (NMH), expressed concern about the “perilous situation developing in the Fish River Canyon.
“People coming through later in the day are finding the barrels that the water marshals have left empty," she claimed.
"The existing pools are extremely low, with very high salinity and bacterial content. This, together with the very high temperatures in the canyon at the moment (40 degrees plus), is resulting in severe dehydration and gastro-intestinal problems, setting up a stage for possible fatalities. Several hikers have had to be evacuated by helicopter, and several have already taken the emergency exits.”
She added: “In a nutshell, there is not enough water. Either they should provide enough or close the canyon before there is a loss of life."
She warned: “This situation is a disaster in the making.”
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