Coastal erosion became serious enough in Kampong Cham province for authorities to dismantle and move 13 houses along the Mekong.

Officials are planning to do the same for about 100 others to prevent them from falling into the river due to rising water levels over the past few days, Heng Vanny, Srei Santhor district governor, said. Affected homes are located in Koh Andet commune’s Korki village.

“I have reported to the provincial authorities and the National Committee for Disaster Management for food aid, materials [and] money to help the victims,” Vanny said.

Houses already disassembled and moved now sit on a nearby hill, where homes are presumably safe from flooding or sinking into the water, Vanny said. He plans on moving 102 more houses to the same area.

Meas Samak said that he had to move when his backyard flooded, knocking down some trees.

Samak said the temporary move will keep him safe amid rising water.

“We will move the house across other’s land and log some trees in order to get a place to stay,” Samak said, maintaining some optimism.

Kampong Cham provincial governor Lun Limthai said that each affected family will receive $75.

The Cambodian Red Cross provincial team will continue helping those who plan to move their homes as well as those who could face flood-related problems in the future.

“We have a plan to evacuate them to the safe hill, [and provide] medicine and food,” Limthai said.

The water level along the Mekong in Kampong Cham was 13.2 metres yesterday, according to the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, which predicts a rise to 13.4 metres.

The National Committee for Disaster Management’s Nhem Vanda said the body has prepared between 10,000 and 20,000 tonnes of rice seeds and 25 tonnes of vegetables.