A health centre partially submerged by flooding in Dar commune of Kratie province’s Chitr Borei district on September 17. NCDM
Five villages in Dar commune of Kratie province’s Chitr Borei district have been impacted by floods, submerging at least 20 houses and inundating over 8 kilometres of roads following heavy rainfall during the early morning hours of September 17.
Soth Kimkolmony, spokesperson for the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), stated that the rain began around 1am and continued until 4am.
He said that among the affected areas were a pagoda courtyard, a primary school and a health centre in Dar village, with water levels reaching as high as 1.4 metres, noting that a woman giving birth at the centre had to be relocated to a higher floor for safety.
Additionally, he reported that 10 sections of road were flooded, covering a total of 8,100 metres, and 20 houses were partially submerged. He added that, fortunately, no injuries or deaths have been reported.
According to Kimkolmony, authorities are currently assessing the situation and preparing resources and teams for intervention should water levels rise further. He said they are also closely monitoring the weather and Mekong River water levels to respond promptly if necessary.
Deputy district administrator Sek Run observed that “It rained all night … but the floodwaters have begun to recede in some areas.”
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology has called for heightened vigilance to prevent accidents as the Mekong’s water levels continue to rise.
The ministry also noted that the recent influence of Typhoon Yagi has brought continuous heavy rainfall to the Mekong River watershed in Thailand and Laos, causing significant increases in water levels and flooding in certain areas.
Additionally, Typhoon Bebinca and a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal have affected the southwest monsoon winds over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, while low-pressure areas continue to affect the central Mekong basin, the South China Sea and Cambodia.
This week, water levels in the Mekong in upper Cambodia have been steadily rising and are expected to flow into tributaries and low-lying areas along both sides of the river.
“The water levels of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers have been rising continuously. Therefore, relevant ministries, institutions, local authorities and citizens living along the rivers are urged to stay informed and take necessary precautions to avoid potential risks,” the ministry warned on Tuesday, September 17.
