More than 7,000 families and over 5,000 hectares of rice fields have been affected by flooding in eight provinces as of today, September 25, while traffic along National Road 76 has been closed to all heavy trucks.
According to National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) spokesman Soth Kimkolmony, the floods affected 7,500 families, of which 15 have been evacuated to safe places​. Over 5,000 hectares of rice and more than 1,800 hectares of mixed crops were inundated. Two riverbanks, stretching over 800 metres, have collapsed, he added.
The eight affected provinces are Kampong Thom, Prey Veng, Banteay Meanchey, Ratanakkiri, Mondulkiri, Stung Treng, Siem Reap and Kratie.
“There have been no casualties… The impact is not considered serious since the water has only temporarily inundated some areas. Overall, the damage is not severe. Authorities and relevant agencies have been actively intervening and responding effectively,” he said.
Some residents living along the Sre Pok River in Lumphat district, Ratanakkiri province, are being evacuated to safe locations as the river level continues to rise, reaching over 13 metres, more than one meter over the danger level. This caused the flooding of several villages and homes along the riverbanks as of this morning, according to the Ratanakkiri Provincial Department of Information.
“The provincial administration, local authorities at all levels and the provincial disaster management committee are continuing to closely monitor and facilitate the evacuation of residents to safe areas,” it said.
The provincial administration has appealed to people living along the rivers to remain vigilant, stay prepared and contact local authorities if they require assistance, so that authorities can provide timely support.
On the same day, the provincial Department of Public Works and Transport issued a notice to the public and heavy truck owners, stating that due to continuous rainfall during the rainy season, roads and bridges cannot withstand the heavy loads. Flooding has made certain stretches impassable. The department has ordered the closure of National Road 76 between kilometre markers 270 and 273 to all heavy trucks until further notice, in order to protect the road and bridges from collapse and ensure public safety.
In Siem Reap province, more than 3,000 homes and some infrastructure across 10 districts have also been affected by flooding.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology has warned that a low-pressure system forming in the western Pacific Ocean has developed into Tropical Storm Bualoi (T2520) and will move into the South China Sea between September 26–29, following the track of Tropical Storm Ragasa (T2518).
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Neoguri (T2519) is still in the Pacific Ocean. T2518 and T2520 will significantly influence the southwest monsoon winds over the Andaman Sea, the Gulf of Thailand, the Mekong Basin and the South China Sea, but the three storms are not expected to make landfall in Cambodia.
This situation is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, thunderstorms and squalls to almost all of the Kingdom from September 26 to October 2.
