Floods caused by heavy rains for the past few days have left three people dead, affected the homes of nearly 100 families and damaged rural infrastructure, according to Soth Kimkolmony, spokesman for the National Committee for Disaster Management.
He told The Post on July 17 that the effects of low pressure systems from Thailand and the South China Sea had caused heavy rainfall in coastal areas and the Cardamom Mountains. From July 11 to 14, the rainfall exceeded 100mm per second. This caused flash flooding in four provinces, Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong, Pursat and Battambang.
“The floods that occurred between July 11 and 14 left three members of a family dead, including a seven-month pregnant women. They were attempting to cross a river in Pursat province’s Veal Veng district by motorbike. The raging waters swept their motorbike into deep water,” he said.
The victims who died in the tragic accident were Chea Sok Koeun, 39, a resident of Chheu Teal village, Thnaot Chum commune, Krakor district, Pursat province, his pregnant wife Chan Pheakdey, 35, and his 3-year-old daughter Ly Chantha.
According to Kimkolmony, heavy rains in Sihanoukville on July 12 caused flooding and affected 54 families in Kampong Seila, Stung Hav and Prey Nup districts, with water flowing across National Road 4 at Stung Samrong Bridge. The waters receded by the following morning.
In Koh Kong, 3 days of heavy rain in a row from July 12-14 caused flooding and affected 40 families in Botum Sakor, Mondul Seima and Sre Ambel districts. 5ha of rice fields were destroyed, and up 160 chickens and ducks were lost.
In Battambang, the hoses of five families in Samlot district were inundated on July 12.
Last May, flooding destroyed 100 homes and destroyed a total of 3,513ha of early season rice fields in Banteay Meanchey and Tbong Khmum provinces.
