Heavy rains have caused flooding in at least nine provinces and there are widespread worries that floods will become much worse as the rainy season continues.
The flooding has already destroyed hundreds of hectares of rice and other crops. If heavy rains continue, thousands more hectares will be lost, provincial officials said.
Uy Sam Ath, director of disaster management for the Cambodian Red Cross, said Monday food and other relief aid may be needed for thousands of families.
According to the National Committee for Disaster Management, flooding has been reported in parts of Takeo, Kampot, Kompong Speu, Kompong Thom, Kompong Cham, Kratie, Siem Reap, Oddor Meanchey and Koh Kong provinces.
Though the rainy season did not start any earlier than last year, the rains this year have been heavier, provincial officials said.
“The water is rising very fast compared to this month last year,” said Mao Phirum, deputy governor of Kompong Cham, where one district is already dealing with high water. “If the water does not go down this week, there will be flooding in villages [throughout] our province.”
Seth Sovannareth, chief of the meteorology department for the Ministry of Water Resources, said the heavy rains have come from storms blowing in from the Indian Ocean after passing over parts of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
The rains have knocked out communications and washed out sections of road in Kompong Speu province.
Koh Kong province Governor Yuth Phouthang said four of his districts have sustained heavy flood damage. “We are planning to help the victims in those places,” he said. “We need help.”
