The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology has issued a warning to coastal provinces in the face of impending storms during the holiday weekend.
“We are concerned that tourists who will travel will want to visit islands during the Khmer New Year, so the ministry is appealing to provincial authorities along coastal areas to curb tourist travel by sea,” said Chan Youttha, Cabinet chief at the ministry.
“This thunderstorm will hit immediately in the afternoons and night and will have a strong impact,” he continued.
In the notice issued yesterday, the Ministry of Water Resources warned that thunderstorms would be pounding the region from Wednesday to Saturday, and could be expected to arrive with little warning throughout the afternoons and nights. Coastal provinces, including Koh Kong, Kep, Kampot and Preah Sihanouk, as well as Mondolkiri, Ratanakkiri, Svay Rieng and Prey Veng provinces can all expect to be affected.
The ministry “appeals to tour companies, all people, and especially authorities in Kep, Kampot and Preah Sihanouk provinces, to restrict sea travel from 2 p.m. to 5 a.m.,” reads the letter signed by Minister Lim Kean Hor.
In Preah Sihanouk, provincial governor Sboang Sarath said he was aware of the warning but that no storms had yet hit the area.
“Our authorities have already organized armed forces to protect security during Khmer New Year,” he added. “I think it will not affect my province, however, because the storm in the Philippine sea has grown calm and I was sitting at the beach earlier and haven’t seen anything.”
Police authorities said preventative measures were nevertheless under way. “We’re taking measures to curb [accidents]. We are not allowing fishermen or tourists to travel on the sea or visit the islands to protect their safety,” said Mann Tour, provincial tourism bureau police chief.
Kep provincial governor Has Sareth said he had already begun issuing warnings to residents and visitors.
“It hasn’t yet affected Kep province, but we have disseminated information…to people and tourists, asking them to care for themselves when the thunderstorm comes.”
