Authorities said the flood situation in Kratie province on Wednesday had improved, while the flooding in Sihanoukville affected two districts and overflowed the expressway. The authorities assured that the flooding was “not serious”.
Flooding has increased in some provinces of Cambodia, including Sihanoukville and Kratie, due to continuous rain caused by major storms.
According to the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration, strong winds and rain have been recorded since 1 a.m. on September 17, 2024, resulting in floods in Village 1 and Village 2, in Otres commune, Stung Hav district, which affected 51 families.
The authorities rescued flood victims in Village 1 and Village 2, and instructed the district authorities and armed forces to pay attention to the weather, and evacuate victims, such as the elderly and children, to safety in a timely manner.
Long Dimanche, deputy governor and spokesperson for Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration, told CamboJA News that two districts, Stung Hav and Kampong Seila, were inundated by heavy rain. As of 12 p.m on Tuesday, the team rescued victims from the location, and moved them to a safe place.
On Wednesday, flood water flowed into the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway around 6 a.m between KM168 and KM169 near Village 1, Tumnop Rolok commune in Stung Hav district, due to the heavy downpour.
Traffic police and public order officers cleared one side of the expressway to allow motorists to travel, thus preventing traffic congestion.
“So far, there has been no closure of the freeway [and] nothing [bad] happened,” Dimanche said.
As for Kbal Chhay Resort, Dimanche mentioned that the area experiences flooding every year because it is a water catchment zone where clean water is produced for Sihanoukville. The area received a lot of rain this year, he added.
Phorn Rim, spokesperson and undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, told CamboJA News that the water level on the expressway had receded and flooding was only temporary.
“Apart from disturbing the traffic flow a little bit, there were no other problems. By 9 a.m, the water had receded,” said Phorn Rim, adding that the team was cleaning up the road.
National Committee for Disaster Management spokesperson Soth Kimkolmony said the flood situation did not endanger the lives of people as it was not serious.
He added that the situation in Kratie province has improved and there were no reports in Sihanoukville. “It’s not serious because the flood was caused by rain. If there is no rain, the water will recede,” Mony said.
Takeo province also informed people to prepare for any flood disaster and increase vigilance in light of the continuous rain and natural disasters which affected neighboring countries.
With regards to the issue, the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology announced that Cambodia would be affected by the 13th typhoon called Bibinka, which will develop into a hurricane.
Due to this, lowlands and highlands will experience heavy rains, thunder, lightning and gusts covering 50% of the land area between September 16 and 18, 2024. The Dangrek plateau and mountainous areas might receive rain with thunder, lightning and gusts covering 55% of the area.
Coastal areas and Bokor Mountain will likely be hit by rain, with thunder, lightning and gusts covering 40% of the area. Sea level will rise with waves reaching an average height of 0.5 meters to 2.25 meters.
