Cambodia: Officials Survey Flood and Drought Damage in Battambang Province

Phnom Penh, September 6, 2026 (AKP) -- Mr. Kim Virak, Deputy Secretary-General and Secretary-General of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), representing H.E. Dr. Kun Kim, First Vice Chairman of the NCDM, led a working group in cooperation with leaders, relevant officials, forces, and local authorities to inspect the situation of floods in Ek Phnom District and drought in Moung Russey District, Battambang Province on September 5, 2026. During the inspection, H.E. Kim Virak examined the progress of restoring damaged road infrastructure and culverts, as well as the provincial and district administrations' ongoing plans for repair and reconstruction. According to reports, Battambang Province experienced two floods in August 2026. The first flood had a higher water level but caused less damage, while the second flood had a lower water level but resulted in damage to some housing and road infrastructure. During the second flood, authorities decided to block water from flowing into canals to protect rice crops that were near or undergoing harvest. After inspecting the flood situation, H.E. Kim Virak continued to inspect the drought situation in Moung Russey District, which has affected over 10,000 hectares. Agricultural officials indicated that if rain falls in September, approximately 30 percent of the affected area could be restored. During the inspection with local authorities, H.E. Kim Virak was informed that four communes in the district are facing difficulties due to a lack of daily water for households, with a tendency towards ongoing temporary water distribution. H.E. Kim Virak instructed commune and district officials to prepare damage reports, requests, and essential needs for intervention, so that the NCDM Secretariat can organize resource management for rescue and request relevant leaders to prepare and intervene in a timely manner. Source: AKP Khmer