At least 18 people in the Kingdom have died and more than 40,000 families impacted by the Mekong River flooding this season, National Committee for Natural Disaster spokesman Keo Vy, told The Post on Monday.

He said floodwaters in the five riverside provinces of Tbong Khmum, Kampong Cham, Stung Treng and Prey Veng had reached alarmingly high levels.

“At least 18 people have died. Kampong Cham has seen 10 drowned. The water levels of the Sesan and Sekong rivers have reached the alert point,” he said.

Vy said normally they experience Mekong floods up to three times per year. Overall water levels, however, depended largely on rain and weather patterns.

On Thursday, Preah Sihanouk Governor Yun Min distributed five tonnes of rice seeds to 113 families who lived in the province’s Veal and Thmey villages.

“The distribution of rice seeds allows people to have enough for cultivation during the rainy season,” Min said.

He said the seeds were of a special type that could be harvested in only 105 days.

July flooding this year has damaged the more than 50 hectares of crops in Preah Sihanouk province’s Kampong Seila district.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology on Monday claimed the water level of the Mekong river in Kratie province had reached 22.11 metres, surpassing the alert point. The water is now seeping into the province’s sewage system.

“Kratie province’s water resources department installed mid-size movable water pumps to transfer the floodwaters from the city sewage system into Romleach lake,” the Ministry of Water Resources said.