Rainfall over the weekend, which caused flooding in 13 provinces, could improve crop yields for rice growers, provincial authorities say.

Agricultural departments in Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Kampong Thom and Battambang provinces – some of the worst hit on the weekend – all said water was now draining from paddies after submerging the rice for two days.

“Actually, it might end up providing enough water for farmers to be able to plant more rice,” Preah Vihear agricultural department director Peung Tryda said.

Peung added that about 5,000 of the province’s 60,500 hectares of rice-growing land had been submerged.

The weekend’s floods marked an early start to the year’s heavy-rainfall period. August and September are generally the wettest months of the year.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology issued a warning to high-land provinces such as Preah Vihear prior to the weekend’s floods, which left five people dead.

According to the ministry, more rain is forecast for those areas until Thursday.