Flooding in Phnom Penh’s Boeung Tompun commune last year. Hong Menea
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology issued renewed weather warnings on Thursday of thunderstorms, strong winds and powerful waves predicted until next Wednesday. It also urged the public to take great care regarding lightning strikes.
Cambodia will experience a full week of medium to heavy rainfall due to a low-pressure system formed by “Bailu”, the 12th tropical storm of the season.
Bailu formed to the east of the Philippines on Wednesday and was heading towards Taiwan. Hence, bad weather due to the low-pressure system is to hit Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, before arriving in Cambodia.
From Thursday to Saturday, almost the entire country will see light to medium scattered showers. Medium to heavy rainfall is forecast from Sunday to Wednesday in coastal provinces Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk.
The low-pressure system is predicted to bring storms and with them strong winds and powerful waves.
“Medium to heavy rainfall is forecast for Phnom Penh and low-lying central provinces, with heavy rain forecast for other areas.
“The public must please take care regarding strong winds, thunderstorms, lightning strikes and powerful waves,” the ministry said.
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Hall spokesperson Kheang Phearum told The Post that the provincial governor had readied security forces for all emergencies.
“Governor Kuoch Chamroeun has issued a weather warning to the residents of Preah Sihanouk province. He has ordered everyone, particularly fishermen, to remain cautious. He has also ordered all security forces and civil servants in the province to be on standby in the case of emergency,” Phearum said.
Koh Kong provincial spokesman Sok Sothy on Thursday said the local administration had also readied security forces and issued a weather warning, with particular attention to fishermen.
“The provincial administration has publicised the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology’s alert for people to ready themselves for the coming bad weather,” he said.
Earlier this year, flooding affected four communes in Preah Sihanouk province’s Prey Nop district, with 1,736 families affected.
Nine hundred and thirty-seven houses were damaged, as was property including cars, motorbikes, electrical generators and electronic devices.
