Mongkul Borey district authorities in Banteay Meanchey province told The Post on Monday that more than 2,300 hectares of paddy fields have been completely destroyed due to flooding, while a further 2,200 hectares face damage in the coming days if heavy rain continues.

Roth Dacinang, Mongkul Borey district governor, said the floods will soon affect Borvel and Malay districts in the northwestern province in just over a week, and that paddy fields in four communes – Cham Noum, Rohat Toek, Bot Trong and Koy Maeng – had already been destroyed by flooding.

“As of Monday, more than 2,300 hectares of paddy fields have been completely destroyed and over 2,200 hectares more will be facing damage if it keeps raining,” Dacinang confirmed. “Right now, it is raining and there are storms.”

According to the report of the Mongkul Borey district authorities The Post received on Sunday, about 48,565 hectares of paddy fields have been cultivated during the early rainy season this year. However, following the floods, a total of 2,534 hectares have been affected in the four communes.

Suon Bovor, Banteay Meanchey provincial governor, has urged experts in the province, especially at the Agriculture Department and Water Resources Department, to intervene to help drain water from the flooded paddy fields.

“We have told the departments to open water gates to ensure the water flows away from the flooded paddy fields, giving the farmers the chance to salvage what they can,” Bovor said.

Meanwhile, Keo Vy, National Committee for Disaster Management spokesman, said that the government has told the committee to prepare 2,000 tonnes of seed to give to the affected people.

“We are currently preparing rice and crop seeds to offer those victims in order to help them cultivate their land again,” he said.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Hun Sen appealed to all relevant institutions to be ready beforehand to prevent and respond in a timely manner to disasters caused by nature, such as floods, storms and droughts.