By:
• Chhum Chantha

• September 17, 2024 , 7:15 PM

PHNOM PENH – Kratie province is bracing for potential flooding as water levels are expected to rise significantly in the coming days. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation following predictions from the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology and the National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC).

According to the forecasts, the Mekong River's water level in Kratie could reach 20.9 meters within the next three to five days. While this level remains below the emergency threshold of 22 meters, officials are taking precautionary measures to ensure public safety. Continued rainfall in the Mekong River catchment areas of Thailand and Laos is contributing to the rising water levels.

“Kratie is prone to flooding at any time, particularly in areas adjacent to the Mekong River,” according to the release from Kratie Provincial Administration on September 17. 

Soth Kim Kolmony, spokesperson for NDMC said on September 17 that the river had already reached 19.84 meters with the emergency level set at 22 meters. 

“The situation is now being closely monitored. Authorities have mobilized emergency personnel, deployed rescue equipment, established safe zones and taken proactive measures to ensure the public safety,” Kolmony said. 

The Kratie Provincial Administration urged communities to stay informed about the flood conditions along the Mekong River and collaborate with local authorities to get updates on evacuation sites for relocating their families and animals if necessary. 

The Provincial Department of Education, Youth, and Sports has instructed students and parents to prioritize safety when traveling through flood-prone areas.

Heavy rainfall triggered flooding in five villages of Dar commune, Chetr Borei district, Kratie province, on the night of September 16.

The downpour, which lasted from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m., inundated several areas, including a pagoda courtyard, a primary school, and a public health center. Twenty homes were also submerged, and some infrastructure was damaged. Fortunately, there were no reports of human or animal casualties.

According to the NDMC, natural disasters claimed the lives of 103 people and injured 243 others in Cambodia last year. Of the fatalities, lightning strikes accounted for 84 deaths, while wind shear and flooding caused 9 and 10 deaths, respectively.

 

Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Rin Ousa for Cambodianess.