The National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) has warned the public to be cautious when crossing the Stung Samrong Bridge in Preah Sihanouk province’s Kampong Seila district as rising water levels threatened to flood it.

The alert came after the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology issued a warning on Sunday, calling for care to be taken as the Kingdom braced for a series of storms this week.

Strong winds and heavy rains have been predicted from Sunday to Tuesday in coastal provinces – particularly Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk – due to the effects of the southwest monsoon.

National Committee for Disaster Management spokesman Keo Vy warned residents to be cautious when crossing the bridge because there was a high chance of it flooding with the increased rainfall.

“The past few days have seen storms bringing heavy rainfall to border and coastal areas, causing considerable impact. Most coastal areas have been affected.

“Preah Sihanouk province has flooded, while Koh Kong and Kampot provinces were also flooded but not seriously,” he said.

“The Stung Samrong Bridge is a concern because it is now half a metre from flooding. If the water continues to rise another 10cm-20cm, heavy vehicles will not be allowed to cross the bridge. If it rises another 50cm, all vehicles will be barred from using it,” Vy said.

The O’Korki bridge bordering Kampong Seila district had been damaged, he said. The authorities are making repairs to it. The bridge is being regularly inspected while the situation in the area is also being monitored.

Preah Sihanouk provincial Department of Public Works and Transport official Phumy Mony Rith told The Post on Monday that bridges in the district were generally prone to flooding if waters rose more than 5m. The water stood at 4.65cm as of 5pm on Monday, he said.

“The situation is stable. The water is yet to rise further and residents have continued to use the road as usual. Should the water continue to rise to an emergency level, we will suspend all travel temporarily,” Mony Rith said.

Separately, heavy rains on Monday flooded crops, roads and houses in two communes in Battambang province’s Samlot district.

A police official in Samlot district who asked not to be named told The Post on Monday that after two days of rainfall, rivers in the district had flooded, affecting the Ta Tork and Samlot communes.

However, the waters had since gradually receded to normal without endangering the lives of residents, he said.