The Cambodia Mine Action Centre (CMAC) has found a warship buried at the bottom of the Mekong River in Srei Santhor district, Kampong Cham province.

The ship is a war remnant from the 1970s, said a CMAC official.

CMAC director-general Heng Ratana told The Post that a sand dredging company had recently discovered a variety of unexploded ordnance at the bottom of the Mekong River in the province’s Meanchey commune, in Srei Santhor district, and CMAC inspected the location.

“Our divers went to the bottom of the river to a depth of 19m with scientific equipment. They scanned the appearance of a warship sunk in that area,” Ratana said.

Due to rising water levels in the Mekong River, lack of funds and technical equipment, plans to recover the ship has been put on hold, he said.

“We do not know the identity of this ship or if it contains unexploded ordnances. We have evaluated the situation and believe it was sunk,” he said.

Ratana said CMAC is sourcing more funds and technical support from partners to recover the ship next year.

Srey Santhor district governor Sim Kong told The Post on Thursday that CMAC divers found a warship on Monday and suspected it of containing unexploded munitions.

“The Srei Santhor district administration assigned the military police to stay at the location and advised the owner of the sand dredging company to change location,” said Kong.

Kampong Cham provincial governor Un Chanda ordered forces to surround the location and issue a ban on fishermen entering the area.