Heavy rains have caused flooding in five provinces, with at least 927 hectares of rice fields damaged. Kampong Thom province reportedly suffered the worst flooding.

On Thursday, June 19, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries reported that Takeo, Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom, Pursat and Banteay Meanchey were affected, with 813 hectares in Kampong Thom’s Prasat Sambor, Kampong Svay, Sandan, Stoung and Santuk districts damaged, as well as 114 hectares in Banteay Meanchey province.

Agriculture ministry secretary of state Touch Bun Hour led a working group to inspect the flooding in Kampong Thom on June 18.

According to the damage assessment, the fields of 2,082 families were affected.

“Overall, the rice damaged by early rainy season flooding consists mainly of non-seasonal rice varieties or off-season varieties, mostly grown in reservoir basins and natural lakes, having been planted from late March through April,” he said.

“This year’s rainy season brought significant rainfall beginning in April, causing water levels in lakes to rise rapidly, submerging rice fields in the flowering and maturing stages. The prolonged flooding has resulted in extensive crop damage,” he added.

He urged local authorities and other relevant government relevant institutions to prepare disaster response measures to respond to the ongoing situation.