Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Siem Reap storms cause havoc at Angkor park, damaging homes

Siem Reap storms cause havoc at Angkor park, damaging homes

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
A number of trees in the Angkor area collapsed on Sunday due to strong winds. Photo supplied

Siem Reap storms cause havoc at Angkor park, damaging homes

Two days of consecutive rainfall with strong winds felled seven large trees at the Ta Phrom and Angkor Wat temples, and the Angkor World Heritage Site in Siem Reap province on Sunday.

The storm damaged 89 structures in Pailin and Banteay Meanchey provinces, including houses, schools and monasteries, according to a Monday report from local authorities.

Apsara National Authority spokesman Long Kosal confirmed on Monday that seven Scots pine trees, as well as other smaller trees in the Angkor area, collapsed on Sunday due to strong winds. The temples themselves and homes in the area were unaffected, he said.

“Among the collapsed trees, four were at Ta Prohm, one at Angkor Wat, and two others in a village in the area. However, it did not affect the temples. Meanwhile, expert authorities are removing the collapsed trees,” said Kosal.

Pailin provincial information department chief You Pov told The Post on Monday that rain and strong winds in the province damaged five houses in two villages in Pailin commune on Sunday.

Local businesses also suffered damages.

“Rain mixed with wind on Sunday afternoon caused many commercial signs to collapse on motorbikes, completely destroying three of them.

“Five mobile phone sellers’ shop roofs at Pahy market were blown away, which destroyed a lot of products and phones, totalling about $35,000 in damage,” Pov said.

Last Monday, a woman was killed by a lightning strike while driving in a rainstorm in Sala Krao district’s O’Andong commune. Ten homes were also destroyed in the storm.

In Banteay Meanchey province, Sunday’s storm, which concluded two days of consecutive rain, damaged 53 houses in Thma Puok district and 31 houses in Poipet town.

Governor Keat Hul confirmed 31 houses were damaged and added that electricity poles collapsed in Phsar Kandal and Nimith communes.

“The Poipet unified committee commander and I are intervening in fixing citizens’ houses and giving food and materials to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” he said.

Thma Puok district governor Deab Chhun said on Saturday that rain and strong winds damaged 53 houses in the district. “Among the 53 damaged houses, 11 were destroyed,” he said.

A school’s roof and a monastery were blown away in Banteay Chhmar and Kouk Romiet communes during the same Saturday storm.

According to a Monday report from the National Committee for Disaster Management, lighting storms have killed six people this year.

Seven others sustained injuries, two cows were killed, and over 2,000 structures were severely damaged as well.

The report said Battambang province suffered the most destruction, followed by Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap and Pursat provinces.

MOST VIEWED

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • PM declares ASEAN Para Games open

    The 12th ASEAN Para Games officially kicked off on the evening of June 3 at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, with a spectacular opening ceremony featuring fireworks and performances by some of the Kingdom’s most accomplished talents. Tens of thousands of sports fans

  • Honda shutters Siem Reap football club

    Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda, the owner of Siem Reap football club Soltilo Angkor FC, has been forced to shut the club down, after it failed to attract sponsorship for the upcoming season. Honda, the former manager of the Cambodia men's national football team, said

  • Waterway job still pending for Kampot tourism port’s opening

    The search is still on for a contractor to expand and deepen the Kampot International Tourism Port’s waterway and deliver additional enhancements allowing safe access for larger vessels, nearly a year after the main construction work on the 4.25ha site was completed on June 30, 2022.