Floodwaters May Shift Hidden Explosives, Mine Authority Issues Warning Ahead of Heavy Rains

Cambodian mine authorities have warned that floodwaters triggered by Tropical Storms Bavi and Haishen could wash landmines, cluster munitions and other unexploded ordnance (UXO) into new areas. As the Kingdom enters the peak of the rainy season, this could create all-new risks for communities. In an advisory issued on July 16, the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) urged provincial authorities, mine action operators and the public to remain on high alert, saying heavy rainfall and flooding could dislodge explosive remnants of war (ERWs) from known contaminated areas and carry them into previously cleared villages, farmland and public roads. The warning follows weather forecasts from the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology about the effects of the heavy rains brought by Tropical Storms Bavi and Haishen, which could lead to flooding in several provinces. “During and after flooding, landmines, cluster munitions and other ERWs may be washed away from contaminated areas and carried by floodwaters, posing a serious threat to people’s lives,” the CMAA said. The authority instructed provincial mine action committees and mine clearance operators to intensify public awareness campaigns, rapidly respond to reports of suspicious objects and immediately mark hazardous areas where explosives may have been deposited by floodwaters. Residents were also reminded never to touch, move or dismantle suspicious objects. They should instead report them immediately to village chiefs, commune authorities, security forces or nearby mine clearance operators. The advisory called on local authorities to ensure all reports of explosive ordnance are responded to promptly so that trained demining teams can safely remove and destroy the items. The warning comes as Cambodia continues to deal with decades-old contamination from past conflicts while also addressing new explosive hazards created during last year’s border conflict with Thailand. Cambodian authorities have repeatedly accused Thai forces of leaving behind UXOs, including artillery shells and other military explosives in several western border provinces following the 2025 hostilities. Clearance teams have since recovered numerous items from former frontline positions and areas around villages affected by the fighting, adding to Cambodia’s long-standing mine and UXO burden. The renewed flood-season warning is particularly significant for border provinces where thousands of displaced residents are gradually returning to their communities following last year’s ceasefire. Floodwaters can alter the location of buried mines and unexploded munitions, making previously safe ground hazardous and complicating efforts by clearance operators to identify contaminated areas. To reduce the risk of accidents, the CMAA said warning signs should be erected immediately in suspected hazardous areas affected by flooding and sediment deposits to prevent people from entering or crossing them. The authority also urged mine risk education operators to distribute additional educational materials explaining the dangers of explosive remnants during and after floods, particularly in rural communities where children and farmers are most vulnerable. Despite decades of clearance efforts, Cambodia remains one of the countries most affected by landmines and ERWs. The CMAA coordinates national mine action policy and works with domestic and international demining organisations to locate, clear and destroy explosive hazards while providing risk education to affected communities. Senior Minister Ly Thuch, first vice-president of the CMAA, called on all relevant ministries, provincial mine action committees, national and international operators and local authorities to implement the latest emergency measures and cooperate to protect communities throughout the flood season. With storms expected to continue bringing heavy rainfall across much of Cambodia in the coming days, authorities urged the public to remain vigilant, particularly in areas with a history of landmine contamination or recent military activity.