Cambodia's PM: floods causes more damages than Ketsana last year

October 18 2010
Source: Xinhua

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday that floods that affects the country in recent weeks has caused more damages than Typhoon Ketsana last year.

Delivering speech to graduate students, Hun Sen said preliminary reports showed that floods that caused by heavy rains in the country have affected more damages than Typhoon Ketsana last year that hit several provinces.

He said at least four people have been killed by floods and at least 9,000 hectares of rice fields have been damaged.

But, he said total loss and damages caused by floods are being figured out.

Typhoon Ketsana hit Cambodia last September and the estimates of 100,000 people were affected by the floods and 15,000 households were in need of food assistance.

Keo Vy, communication officer of National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) said this year's floods have hit 12 provinces and a city.

Flash floods kill four in Cambodia: official [... Alas! They are not the 4 KR leaders]

Saturday, October 16, 2010
AFP

PHNOM PENH — Four Cambodians including a four-year-old boy have been swept to their deaths in flash flooding in recent days as heavy rains battered the country, officials said Saturday.

Three men drowned in different affected provinces, while a child disappeared during flooding in the Phnom Penh area and is presumed dead, the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) said.

"The floods hit many parts of Cambodia, but at the moment they have subsided," said Keo Vy, director of NCDM.

Bad weather also forced officials at Cambodia's UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal to temporarily relocate high-profile Khmer Rouge leaders currently awaiting trial for crimes including genocide during the "Killing Fields" era.

A court spokesman said Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith, Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea had been taken to a new building at an undisclosed location.

Former prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, or Duch, who was sentenced in July to 30 years imprisonment for war crimes and crimes against humanity, was also among those moved.

Drenched Phnom Penh from the air ... one day after the rain

Click on the photos to zoom in

Saturday (Oct. 16) morning (approx. 10:30 a.m.) in the air a few minutes before hitting the runway at Phnom Penh international airport... ; the flooding of 1-2 days ago... (Photo: Courtesy of Theary Seng on Facebook)

Authorities Count Storm Toll, Warn of Flooding

Since Monday some 13 provinces are facing flooding problems. (Photo: AP)

Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Friday, 15 October 2010

A total of four people have died in storms and flooding since Sunday, government officials said Friday, as officials nationwide counted the toll of heavy rain for the week.

A severe storm system battered the coast on Sunday, while continued rain flooded streets and fields nationwide. Authorities in several provinces have begun issuing alerts for anticipated flooding.

In Phnom Penh, flooding was reported in different neighborhoods as the week progressed.

Officials at the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal were forced to work out of the office, as the premises became inundated.

Flood in Banteay Meanchey province (Western Cambodia)

Flood in Rung Klua market

Flood in Rung Klua market

Flood in Poipet

Flood in Poipet

Flood in Poipet

Flood in Thmar Puok

Floodwater reaches roof of housings in Kaun Damrey village; Villagers camp on the road; Electricity cut off

15 October 2010
By Bun Samnang
DAP news

Banteay Meanchey – The latest report from Banteay Meanchey province indicated that at 7:40PM on Friday 15 October 2010, rain flooding and water flooding from the collapse of the K5 dike caused floodwater to reach up to the roof of houses in Kaun Damrey village, O’Chrov district. The flooding forces the villagers to set up tents on the road to camp out.

In Poipet city, electricity was cut off completely in order to avoid electrical shock.

The same report indicated that the entire Poipet city – north, south and central areas – are under flood water. Some villas in Poipet city are flooded by water reaching up to thigh level.

Phnom Penh Authority alerts residents of flooding

October 15, 2010
Xinhua

Phnom Penh Municipality Authority has alerted residents living in suburban area of the capital to cautious of any risks to property, animals and human lives that may cause by the flooding.

In the public notice sent out late Thursday and copied to the media on Friday suggested that those living along Prek Thnauth Stream which lies along the suburban area of Phnom Penh must be cautious with their property, animals and human lives.

It said the bad weather is affecting the country and it may cause more rain and flooding in the area.

At least seven communes located in Phnom Penh are being affected by the heavy rain over the past few days and the rain will continue for the next few days.

Due to flooding, at least two workers were reported dead caused by electrocuted while working the factory that submerged by the floods over the past two days.

The first victim identified as Chan Bunthy, 52, while he was working in his metal handicraft in Khand Meanchey in Phnom Penh and another victim was Than Long, 50, while he was working in the construction field as his hand touched with the metal while power supply was running.

The heavy rains over the past several days in Cambodia have damaged a number of houses and other properties while some parts of the country are facing the cut in traffic flows.

Flooding near Cambodian capital forces preparations for mass evacuation

Friday, October 15, 2010
Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Several thousand people living on the outskirts of Phnom Penh have been told to prepare for a mass evacuation as unusually heavy rains continue.

Keo Vy, a disaster relief official, said Friday at least four people died as a result of heavy rains since Monday and some 13 provinces are facing flooding problems. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen appealed to citizens to pay close attention to the possibility of floods, and ordered officials to be ready to help victims.

A letter from the capital city's authorities released to the press Friday said the level of the Prek Thnoat River, located west and southwest of Phnom Penh, has been rising significantly.

"Therefore, our brothers and sisters must get ready and prepare all kinds of means of transportation for evacuating your children and animals to the safe areas in a timely fashion," said the statement, originally issued Thursday night.

Motorboats, tools and several thousand sandbags, tools and motorboats have been prepared to help the villagers, along with more than 1,000 soldiers put on standby. Greater Phnom Penh is home to an estimated 1.5 million people, but only a few thousand — no exact figure was available — are immediately threatened with evacuation.

The Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology has issued two announcements this week saying that virtual nonstop rain due to a tropical depression was expected to last at least until early next week.

Flooding of National Road No. 2

Report and Video by Mom Sophon

KR leaders evacuated out of … their cells to safer ground

Phnom Penh evacuation in April 1975

13 Oct 2010
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Soch

An anonymous source from the KR Tribunal indicated that the 5 suspects detained by the KRT were transferred out of their cells to a new building within the KRT due to flooding. The source indicated that the 5 KR leaders were moved to cells at higher floors in another building. Reach Sambath, KRT spokesman, denied this allegation and indicated that the five are safe and that there is no problem. Reach Sambath added: “Flood water doesn’t affect them because they are being taken care of with great attention.” He added that court officials were told to stay at home yesterday due to flooding.

Rainwater floods Takhmao

Report and Video by Uon Chhin, Radio Free Asia

Cambodia apologizes for airport confusion

2010-10-12
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodian aviation authorites issued a vague apology Tuesday for confusion over flight disruptions, saying weather conditions did not force the closure of its two international airports as stated a day earlier.

"No flight disruption or weather-related delays (have) occurred. Any information stating differently is groundless," the civil aviation authority and the airports' operator said in a joint statement.

On Monday, a high-ranking civil aviation official, Him Sarun, announced that all flights were suspended at the airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap from 10 a.m. onward due to heavy rain and strong winds. He said pilots could not see the runways and the closures were enforced "for the sake of travelers' safety."

However, the airports never shut down Monday and flights took off and arrived mostly as scheduled.

It is unclear what prompted the confusion.

"The international airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (were) operating as usual yesterday despite challenging weather conditions," the statement said.

It added that Cambodia's international airports are equipped with navigation and landing aid systems that comply with international standards and allow flights to operate safely in adverse weather conditions.

All-day rain flooded parts of capital Phnom Penh on Monday with up to 3.3 feet of water (1 meter).

The Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology says the poor weather conditions started Sunday and would last until at least Wednesday.

Government Issues Heavy Rain Warning

A Cambodian motorcyclist maneuvers through a flooded street along side cars on a rainy day in Phnom Penh. (Photo: AP)

Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 11 October 2010

“There were some victims but the [National Committee For Disaster Management] is working on it.”

The Ministry of Hydrology on Monday warned that maritime provinces and others are facing the threat of flooding and damages under continued rains.

The warnings come after Preah Sihanouk province experienced heavy rains and as-yet undetermined damages. Two fishing boats and one tourist boat were overturned on Sunday in heavy weather, officials said, though no drownings were reported.

Local authorities are still assessing the damage from Sunday's storm, which may have destroyed some homes.

“There were some victims but the [National Committee For Disaster Management] is working on it,” said Keo Vy, a spokesman for the agency.

The ministry has issued warnings to the inland provinces of Kampong Speu, Pursat, Prey Veng and Svay Rieng, as well as the coastal provinces of Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk and Kampot, of dangers resulting from flooding and storms over the next three days.

Heavy rain, strong winds force cancellation of all flights in Cambodia

Monday, October 11, 2010
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodia has suspended all flights to its two international airports due to heavy rain and strong winds.

Civil aviation official Him Sarun says the suspension at the airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap started at 10 a.m. Monday (0300 GMT) and would remain in effect as long as the weather was bad. He says some 20 flights to and from other countries were cancelled. Domestic flights were also stopped.

Him Sarun said Monday: "We did it for the sake of travellers' safety." He says that pilots could not see the runway.

The Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology says the poor weather conditions started Sunday and would last until at least Wednesday. All-day rain flooded parts of capital Phnom Penh as deep as 1 metre (3.3 feet).

Heavy rain sparks massive landslide in China on Tuesday

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Massive floods hit Cambodian Preah Vihear Province

2008/09/24
Bernama

PHNOM PENH, WED: Heavy rains have caused floods in at least four of Cambodian Preah Vihear province’s seven districts, especially along the Stueng Sen River, national media reported Wednesday.

“At least four districts have been flooded by rain and the rising Stueng Sen River. Some places have been seriously damaged by this flood,” China’s Xinhua news agency quoted provincial Deputy Governor Long Sovann as saying in the Phnom Penh Post.

He said that Tbeng Meanchey, Rovieng, Chey Sen and Kulen districts have been particularly affected.

“I do not have any reports of people’s property being damaged, but we believe some rice and farm crops have been destroyed,” Long Sovann said, adding that officials are working hard to ascertain the extent of the damage.

While the water level is still lower than it was last year, some fear that the situation will worsen as the rain continues.

Mao Pov, police chief in Preah Vihear province, said that heavy rains have affected almost all districts and that the water level continues to rise.

“A provincial town located on a hill in Tbeng Meanchey district is currently surrounded by water. Farmers from nearby villagers have been forced to relocate to the small town to avoid the flood,” Mao Pov said, adding that the water level continues to rise.