Battambang Province Faces Severe Flooding Along Sangkae River, Residents Urged to Exercise Caution

In Battambang Province, western Cambodia, the Sangkae River has seen an unexpectedly rapid rise in water levels, leading to expanding flood damage across various areas of the province. Kai Sudar, Director of the Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology, announced on September 25th that the Sangkae River's water level had reached 13.40 meters, attributed to widespread rainfall influenced by neighboring countries. In response to this situation, the director has indicated the possibility of issuing a flood alert. Currently, areas around the Don Tong Bridge in Ratanak Mondol district and various regions in Samlout district are submerged. Consequently, the Sek Sak multipurpose dam in Ratanak Mondol district, the Kanghot water retention dam in Banan district, and the Sala Ta On water retention dam have all been opened for water discharge. However, due to the confluence of river water and floodwaters, the flow is slow, and water levels continue to rise. The director urged residents living along the Sangkae River and in low-lying areas to exercise extreme caution due to the rapid water level increase. He particularly called for maximum vigilance from residents in Ak Phnum district, which has historically suffered repeated flood damage, causing harm to infrastructure and rice paddies. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local