Residents living along the banks of the Stung Sen River in Kampong Thom province have been warned by authorities to increase their flood preparedness, with its waters having risen above alert level.
He Koeun, director of the provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology, told The Post that as of the afternoon of August 15, the waters of Stung Sen at the Kampong Thom Hydrological Station had risen to 13.51m, with the alert level pegged at 13.50m.
"People living along the river need to be extra vigilant about the safety of their families, especially children, pregnant women and the elderly," Koeun said.
The water level of the Stung Sen River is likely to continue to rise over the next three to four days, he added.
Stung Sen town governor Mak Bunhong told The Post that floods had now affected more than 800ha of rice fields in Damrei Choankhla, Kampong Rateas and O’Kanthor communes.
"The Stung Sen municipal administration has already prepared its forces and means to intervene to evacuate people from flood-affected areas," he said.
Un Both, governor of Kampong Svay district, told The Post that as of the afternoon of August 15, floods had affected a total of 7,184ha of paddy fields, of which 2,760ha were damaged.
There had also been damage to some road infrastructure.
"Flooding from the Stung Sen River will continue to affect more farmland, which will cause the 4,424ha of rice fields that have just been affected by the recent rain-induced flooding to be damaged further," Both said.
Meanwhile, the level of the Mekong River at all hydrological stations on August 15 had decreased slightly compared to the previous day.
At Stung Treng hydrological station, the water level had dropped 0.85m, according to the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology on the morning of August 15.
At Kratie provincial station, the water level had decreased 0.76m, while at Kampong Cham provincial station, it had dropped 0.42m.
