At least seven homes and about 10-20 hectares of farmland were nearly completely submerged by flooding after a torrential rainstorm early yesterday morning, according to authorities in Oddar Meanchey’s Anlong Veng commune.

Vong Pheak, Anlong Veng commune chief, said the flood came after heavy rains that lasted from about 1am to 3am.

Pheak said some crops planted in the lowland area were at risk of destruction, but confirmed no one was hurt in the downpour and that damage to the homes was minimal.

“If there is no more rain, the water will recede quickly and the crops will not be severely damaged,” he said.

Pheak also said water levels had already receded enough for the displaced villagers to return home.

Keo Vy, spokesman for the National Committee for Disaster Management, said that despite the potential damage to local crops, the rain was welcome. He said that 650 hectares of rice farms in Anlong Veng, Chongkal and Somroang communes were desperate for water following a recent drought.

“We are not worried about the flooding, because we needed water for the rice fields”, Vy said yesterday.

He added that Oddar Meanchey is located on highlands in northwestern Cambodia and generally not at risk of flooding like provinces in the central lowland areas.

“What we are worrying about right now is the lack of water for crops, because some areas are still suffering from the drought,” Vy said.