National Committee for Disaster Management spokesman Keo Vy yesterday appealed to citizens and authorities in low-lying areas to beware of floods as water levels continue to rise following heavy rains.

The downpours, which began last week, have caused flooding in six provinces. At the moment, floodwaters in the upper Mekong region have begun to recede, but strong currents flowing into the Tonle Sap and Tonle Bassac rivers and the Tonle Sap Basin could lead to the flooding of nearby homes and farmland.

“In such a situation, authorities and all people living in lowland areas along the Tonle Bassac and surrounding the Tonle Sap must pay attention as nine people died because of flooding in the last few weeks,” Vy said.

Floods caused by heavy rains over the Mekong River killed seven across Kratie, Kampong Cham, Prey Veng, Tbong Khmum, and Phnom Penh, while flooding in Preah Vihear province killed two.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology warned that water levels in the Mekong, Tonle Sap, Tonle Bassac rivers and the Tonle Sap Basin will continue to climb over the next two or three days due to large quantities of water flowing south from the upper Mekong.

Kandal Provincial Police Chief Eav Chamroeun said that authorities were prepared to intervene and help local people evacuate to safe zones in the highlands.

“Floodwaters have reached the deep-water rice plantations, but not people’s houses yet,” he said.

Floods in Kampong Cham province yesterday submerged Kampong Samnanh village, displacing 46 families to safer highland areas, said Prey Chhor district Police Chief Keo Senghorn.