Wednesday, April 02, 2008

58 houses fell into the Tonle Sap in Phnom Penh [- the villagers blame the sand dredging operation]

A view of the collapse scene (Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

Tuesday, April 1, 2008
By Ung Chansophea
Cambodge Soir Hebdo

Translated from French by Luc Sâr

At 4:00 PM, in Phnom Penh, not too far from the Japanese bridge, only a few meters away from National Road No. 5 leading to Battambang, the Tonle Sap river bank collapsed and took with it 58 houses, most of them simple dilapidated poor houses.

“The Samaky village, located in the Russei Keo commune, is in shock. We are working to evacuate the villagers and bring them to shelters on firm ground, as well as providing them with urgent items. All the boats have been commandeered for the circumstance,” Keat Chher, the deputy chief of the Russei Keo district, declared.

Several people, some of whom were children, were fished out from the river just in time by the rescue crew. But numerous villagers have disappeared, their relatives indicated. According to testimonies collected by police officers on the spot, there were “no victims, no people injured.” The rescue operation, which extended long into the evening, mobilized major resources, both in terms of human resources as well as equipment.

Even though the cause of the collapse is still unknown, some villagers have immediately pointed out the sand dredging operation which is taking place daily along the two shores of the Tonle Sap, and this issue brings in high emotion.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

this showed how the country prosperity run by hun sensen and the CPP. later on pp will be flooded and they will move to destroy Siam reap...

Anonymous said...

No, that was caused by Ah Xam Rainxy loud mouth.

Anonymous said...

Most of the house owners are Vietnamese. They have lived by docking their floating houses to the river bank and then traditionally built their homes on that bank.

By Cambodian Land Law limitting the distance at least 50 meters away from river, lale and sea.... are public property of the state, no one can own it, exept Vietnbamese?, the then Phnom Penh governor Chea Sopheara once planned to evict those illegal immigrant away from the site.

Hok Lundy and Vietnamese elites in Cambodia blocked him from moving ahead.

Ah Kler (buddy) Vanda and Chuk te ma please bring them as much as help you can to save their lives, otherwise no one would own that place.

Let's have a say "Bravo!Areak Toek Khmer!!!

Anonymous said...

Beach or bank corrosion is part of mother nature. Of course, the calemity could strike at any time.

Anonymous said...

hello! do expect many changes and changes don't necessary be just in politics and gov't, they can also be in economics, evironment, geography, demographic, landscapes, etc... just be educated and aware about it will help tremendously.