Four more bodies were found Wednesday morning in waters near Wat Koh pagoda in Svay Rieng province’s Kuoy Trabek village, bringing the confirmed death toll to six following the overturning of a small boat.
Police found the bodies about 7 am, according to provincial deputy chief of cabinet Prum Rina. Two bodies were found Tuesday, and two people are still missing.
Provincial police chief Sorth Nordy said Wednesday there were 16 people on the boat, that capsized Tuesday, not 10 as previously reported. Eight survivors have been located.
Sorth Nordy said 40 policemen in six boats were joined by private citizens in the search. He said police don’t have enough boats to patrol all the waters, and must sometimes rent boats from citizens.
Rain, sometimes heavy, continued through much of Cambodia Wednesday. Sith Vanareth, a government meteorologist, predicted the heavy rains would continue today and perhaps into Friday.
Officials said all boat traffic in Koh Kong province was halted due to high winds and waves.
The Associated Press reported that four boats carrying villagers flipped over Wednesday during an aid distribution effort in Kompong Cham province led by Prime Minister Hun Sen. No one was hurt.
Near Poipet, the Thai government responded to a Cambodian request for flood aid by donating 100 tons of rice to four northwestern provinces, according to Nhiek Kim Chhun, second vice governor of Banteay Meanchey province.
He thanked the Thais for their generosity, which will be shared with flood victims in Battambang, Pursat and Oddor Meanchey provinces.
In Phnom Penh, a group of flood victims from Peam Roveak Kroum commune, Kandal province, visited the Royal Palace to ask King Norodom Sihanouk for help.
“Our houses have been flooded for two months, yet we have never received donations,” said Kea Phalla, 36, who was among more than 200 people hoping to receive help. “We have nothing to eat.’’
(Additional reporting by Lor Chandara and Saing Soenthrith)
