Floods continue to cause chaos

via CAAI

Tuesday, 12 October 2010 21:08 Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

Continuing rough weather has been blamed for the deaths of two people in Kampong Speu province, and more than 20 fishermen were said to have gone missing off the coast of Koh Kong province as a result of storms that have caused flooding nationwide.

Van Sokha, secretary to the Kampong Speu provincial governor, said two men were killed by electric shocks generated by a power line that was downed by strong winds.

The weather “had caused many factories and markets to shut” in the province and affected an untold number of hectares of rice crops, he said.

In Koh Kong, Thuon Chem, a fishing community representative in Kiri Sakor district, said at least 20 fishermen had been reported missing since the storms began on Sunday, but that she was hopeful they would be found.

“We are still searching for the boats and fishermen who were lost during the storm and heavy rains,” she said. “We think they are all OK, and we wish them all good luck.”

Phnom Penh police chief Touch Naruth said Dangkor appeared to be the worst-affected district, with the homes of 1,475 families from 16 villages sustaining “severe” damage.

At the Khmer Rouge tribunal, which is located in Dangkor district, flooding forced officials to relocate the five Khmer Rouge leaders currently in custody, said an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the press.

Keo Vy, director of the National Committee for Disaster Management, said yesterday that the floods had hit most districts in seven provinces outside Phnom Penh: Kampot, Kampong Speu, Kandal, Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey, Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk

According to a statement issued Monday by the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, low atmospheric pressure is expected to see flooding continue through today in all lowland areas – including Phnom Penh – as well as in Kampong Speu, Prey Veng and Svay Rieng provinces.

Phnom Penh police chief Touch Naruth said on Monday that floods had hit every district in the capital. Dangkor appeared to be the worst-affected district, with the homes of 1,475 families from 16 villages sustaining “severe” damage, he added.

At the Khmer Rouge tribunal, which is located in Dangkor district, flooding forced officials to relocate the five Khmer Rouge leaders currently in custody, said an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the press.

The official said all five – Kaing Guek Eav, Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith, Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea – had been temporarily moved from the detention facilities to another building.

Nov Saroeun, chief of the drainage and pumping unit at the Municipal Public Works and Transport Department, said the flooding had only affected those districts – Dangkor, Sen Sok, Meanchey and Russey Keo – that were not covered by a drainage system that is in the process of being installed citywide.

“Although we lack proper drainage systems in all parts of the city, we are working hard to pump the water from dams and other flooded areas,” he said.

Keo Vy, director of the National Committee for Disaster Management, said yesterday that the floods had hit most districts in seven provinces outside Phnom Penh: Kampot, Kampong Speu, Kandal, Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey, Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk.

In Kandal, Judge Leang Sour said that roughly 95 percent of documents at the provincial court were destroyed because of flooding on Monday. He said most of the documents were complaint letters lodged to the court. “However, we will be able to get copies from lawyers, plaintiffs and other people,” he said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY THET SAMBATH