Storms destroy more than 30 houses

via CAAI

Sunday, 20 February 2011 18:48 Thet Sambath

More than 30 houses spanning two provinces in northwestern Cambodia were destroyed by storms on Friday.

In Oddar Meanchey, 29 houses were destroyed by a storm on Friday in Banteay Ampil, Anlong Veng and Samrong districts, Pich Sokhin, deputy governor of Banteay Meanchey province, said today.

“Twenty-nine houses were destroyed by the storm but no people were injured,” he said, adding that initially the storm did not appear to be serious.

“I have not yet received a report on other casualties from the storm. I am asking my officials to check,” he said.

Srey Naren, a coordinator for the rights group Adhoc in Oddor Meanchey province, said today that a number of military houses located in the province were also destroyed by the storm.

The storm also struck Banteay Meanchey province on Friday, damaging six houses in O’chrouv district, Ung Oeun, governor of Banteay Meanchey province, said today.

“We have six people’s houses damaged by the storm. It is not serious damage,” he said.

Provincial authorities and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces deputy commander-in-chief Kun Kim have provided each of the 29 families affected by the storm with 25 kilograms of rice and 50,000 riels.

“Storms have attacked our province every year. We are working to assist and advise people to be careful and prevent any casualties in the future”, Pich Sokhin added today.

Nhim Vanda, vice president of the National Committee for Disaster Management, said today that no casualties were reported from lightning strikes and he is assisting families who were affected by the storm in Oddar Meanchey province.

Officials from the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology could not be reached for comment today.