Image credits- phnompenhpost.com
Rainstorms have recently struck Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Region, with further rain expected in the coming weeks. The National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) has predicted heavy rainfall and issued flood warnings for several districts already grappling with flooding, including Phnom Penh, Banteay Meanchey, and Kampong Thom, among others.
As a result of these sudden floods, 32,373 households and 176 schools have been affected, and approximately 51,456 hectares of rice fields and 10,039 cattle grazing lands have been submerged. Anticipated severe damage to agricultural lands and infrastructure will require a comprehensive assessment once water levels recede.
Assistance and rescue operation from NGOs and the state to 10,276 households is in progress. Neighborhoods are immersed in flood water forcing children to stay at home. In anticipation of monsoons, the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology issued a warning to the general public. Moderate rainfall with the possibility of thunderstorms is forecasted and the coastal region is under high alert. Officials warned the households to be cautious and well-prepared in the event of massive floods.
Numerous areas around Phnom Penh, Stung Prek Tnaot River, and Kampong Speu province, have been affected by flooding in recent days. The receding of floods is forecasted by Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology Thor Chetha.
In Cambodia, the annual monsoon season brings with it a recurring challenge: the threat of flash floods. In particular, the year 2000 stands out as a dire reminder of the havoc these floods can wreak, causing extensive harm to the national economy and affecting 2.7 million individuals. This catastrophe was primarily attributed to the Mekong River overflowing its banks following 11 days of relentless heavy rainfall. Consequently, authorities are diligently focused on preventing any recurrence of such devastating events from transpiring in the present and future.