This year's rainy season is expected to start in earnest on Saturday with floods predicted for Phnom Penh and some provinces, according to the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology.

According to a forecast published on Wednesday, low pressure and wind from the southwest is likely to cause heavy rain throughout the country until next Friday, especially in provinces near the Vietnamese border.

Meanwhile, in Banteay Meanchey province, near the Thai border, authorities in Thma Puok district have already reported flooding in some communes since earlier this month.

District Governor Deap Chhoun said that rain had started on Sunday, flooding some lower-lying communes when water poured down from higher areas on Wednesday and Thursday.

“At this time, the north of Thma Puok district is severely flooded because of heavy water flows from the mountains and hill areas, causing flooding on people’s farmlands, and it continues to flood people’s houses as well as some state buildings,” he said.

Prak Sarann, deputy director of the provincial Department of Public Works and Transport, said that his officials were sending some machinery to build canals and a dam to prevent flooding.

The Ministry of Meteorology appealed to farmers in particular to be cautious of severe storms and lightning.