Kun Kim, first vice-president of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), and local authorities inspect an anti-flooding sandbag barricade in Kampong Cham province’s Koh Sotin district on September 26. NCDM
Flooding has occurred in nine of the Kingdom’s provinces since the beginning of the month. In Kratie – the worst-hit of the provinces – the homes of more than 10,000 families have been inundated.
National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) spokesman Soth Kimkolmony explained the extent of the damage.
He noted that the affected provinces included Kratie, Stung Treng, Preah Sihanouk, Mondulkiri, Siem Reap, Tbong Khmum, Ratanakkiri, Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom.
“All nine of these provinces suffered heavy rains, as well as Mekong River flooding. Despite this, the situation was not severe in most places, which felt less impact than Kratie,” he added.
Kratie saw 36 communes and 189 villages in five communes inundated, including a total of 51,756 people from 12,924 families. Fortunately, only 131 families required evacuation from their homes to safer places.
In addition, 37 schools, 2 health centers, 16 pagodas, 33 wells, 278 toilet blocks and six commune administrative buildings were also affected.
The floodwaters submerged a total of 7,934ha of rice fields, damaging 3,994ha of them. Of the 794ha of mixed crops that were flooded, 596ha were destroyed.
Kimkolmony added that floodwaters in several provinces have receded, leaving only river flooding affecting fields, largely caused by water flowing from Laos and Vietnam.
“Water from upstream has caused the river levels to rise. The Cambodian plains are still receiving water through various channels. This rise is beneficial as it can bring fertile soil, kill pests and flush out some pollutants,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Kampong Cham province, the rising river has caused almost 7.5km of riverbank to collapse, in Stung Trang, Kampong Siem, Koh Sotin, Kang Meas and Srei Santhor districts. Authorities have placed some 300 sandbags in Koh Sotin to reinforce the banks of the river.
Kun Kim, first vice-president of the NCDM and Kampong Cham provincial authorities inspected the situation in Koh Sotin district on September 26 and met with some of the affected residents.
According to the NCDM, they, and relevant authorities are fully prepared to respond to the ongoing situation.
