The Kampong Leng district authority in Kampong Chhnang province announced a temporary ban on the use of Road 50C from Kang Kep village in Chronouk commune to the border of Kampong Thom province. The August 23 decision was made due to flooding.
Cheng Chanbona, acting governor the district, told The Post that the Tonle Sap Lake’s water levels were rising, meaning the section of road was washed out and potentially dangerous.
“In order to protect this section of road and to prevent any accidents occurring, the authorities have banned the use of the road by all vehicles,” he said.
He added that the district administration would inform the public when the road is ready to be reopened.
Dok Bunthon, director of the Kampong Chhnang provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology, told The Post that on August 23 that the water level at the Phsar Krom hydrological station was higher than last year, but still well below the alert level.
“The Tonle Sap is far below the danger level. However, Kampong Leng district, which is a lowland area adjacent to the lake, will face flooding in the near future if local storms continue,” he said.
According to Bunthon, the water level of the Tonle Sap fluctuates depending on rainfall and the flow of the Mekong River. This week, rainfall had decreased and the Mekong remained low.
Chan Yutha, spokesman for the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, told The Post that the typhoons which were affecting the east of the Philippines and the northeast of Japan were having no effect on the Mekong basin.
The Kingdom continued to be affected by a low pressure front above India and the weak southwest monsoon that is moving across the basin and affecting Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
“Rainfall is predicted to be heavy in some areas, so local authorities and the general public should remain vigilant against any rain-induced floods,” he said.
According to a report from the National Committee for Disaster Management, as of August 23 floods ahave claimed two lives and also inundated more than 17,000ha of rice field across the country – with 6,000ha destroyed. Two wooden bridges, six rural roads and one reservoir bank were also damaged.
