NamWater has opened the sluice gates of the Naute Dam near Keetmanshoop after the dam exceeded its full capacity.

Speaking to nbc news, the Head of NamWater Business Unit South, Hieronymus !Goraseb, confirmed that two sluice gates at the Naute Dam were opened this morning, releasing water at a rate of 200 cubic meters per second.

The released water flows into the Löwen River, which eventually feeds into the Orange River.

"In the run-up to opening the sluices, number one, we close off the road. And we have opened the road on the dam wall. So, people traveling between Keetmanshoop and downstream from Naute should be able to make use of our dam wall. There is a road passage we are controlling. And for people who are downstream from Naute, I think it is very important that they must at all times realize there is a possibility of large volumes of water reaching the areas where they are. Therefore, people should be cautious before they cross the rivers and be on the lookout."

Sluice gates at Naute Dam will remain open until the water level reduces to 100 percent.

The Neckartal Dam near Keetmanshoop is also overflowing after it reached full capacity on Monday.