Flooding Recedes in Some Areas

Written by DAP NEWS -- Friday, 02 October 2009

(Post by CAAI News Media)

As Typhoon Ketsana wreaked havoc in northeastern Cambodia killing an uncertain number, local authorities and the Provincial Red Cross Natural Disaster Committee reported on Thursday flooding had destroyed houses and damaged crops, especially Siem Reap province.

Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Stung Treng and Ratanakiri were the provinces most affected by the flooding.

Vice Provincial Director of the Stung Treng Cross Red Committee told DAP News Cambodia that he had yet to receive a recent about the damage due to communication difficulties caused by the storm.

DAP News Cambodia tried to contact to all governors affected by the natural disaster most were busy in a special meeting. Members of the Provincial Red Cross Natural Disaster Committee were also said to be at the same meeting.

Provincial Ratanakiri Red Cross Natural Disaster Director Nath told DAP News Cambodia that 9 villages in three communes were destroyed.

Ratanakiri’s Andaung Meas District’s Norng Narin said that floods destroyed his village, with 863 families losing property and 770 houses destroyed by flooding. However, there were no deaths in that area.

“Around 9:00 am, the flood waters rose to about two meters. At one time, they were at over 5 meters,” Narin added.

According to local reporters from the various regions, the floodwaters receded quickly.

Attempts to contact to the officer in charge of the Natural Disaster Committee and officials from Ministry of Water Resource and Metrology were futile on Thursday.

Sum Saman of the Siem Reap Red Cross said that “as of the evening of October 1, the local death toll was at least three, with 6 more injured. “There are 74 houses were destroyed, 26 houses damaged and 48 houses collapsed in the four districts of Saut Nekum, Angkor Thom, Chi Kreng and Krong Siem Reap.”

Provincial Vice Director of Agricultural Department said that there would be no significant damage to rice fields if the waters receded within 5 days.

He added that local authorities were prepared to deal with any effects to farming, with vaccinations for livestock at the ready.