As flood waters recede in Preah Vihear province, authorities are now facing a rising damage bill with at least 14 kilometres of roads in need of repair.

Preah Vihear Provincial Hall spokesman Kosum Bunsoeut said that the province’s Public Works and Transportation Department yesterday began repairing nine roads damaged by floodwaters, which rose following recent heavy rains and forced the evacuation of dozens of families in the northern province.

Estimating the bill at “tens of thousands” of dollars, Bunsoeut said the infrastructure damaged included bridges and drainage systems. He noted farmers’ crops had also suffered.

He said officials were still assessing the full toll of the floods and planned to request aid from the national budget to help fund repairs.

Preah Vihear Public Works and Transportation Director Sam Leangtry said an inter-ministerial committee inspected flood-affected areas on Saturday before tasking local crews to repair infrastructure that could be fixed with the province’s own funds.

“To serve the public interest, on Monday morning our team mobilised many vehicles to repair the less affected roads,” he said, adding that authorities identified one bridge and seven drains in need of repair, along with the 14 kilometres of road.

Meanwhile, water levels continued to rise yesterday along the Mekong River in Tbong Khmum province.

Sorm Samet, police chief of Kroch Chhmar district’s Treas commune, said authorities had temporarily closed schools, the commune hall, police station and health centre because of flooding. “The authorities have set up a camp as a temporary office on a safe hill to continue to serve the people,” he said.