Battambang bridge shut as heavy rain pushes river levels up

A key bridge in Battambang city was closed to traffic on September 25 after days of heavy rain caused the Sangkae River to swell rapidly. The provincial administration said the Samdech Kralahom Sar Kheng Bridge would be off limits for the time being, and warned people living along the river to take extra care, with particular attention to children and elderly residents.

Rain also left roads and bridges under water in Samlot district on Friday, as streams and rivers across the area kept rising.

Storm drives days of rain

The provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology reported that a low-pressure system formed over the western Pacific between September 24 and 30, later strengthening into the year's 26th storm, Surigae (T2626).

The storm shaped the southwest monsoon across the Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, South China Sea, Mekong River basin, Cambodian waters and Cambodia, bringing several straight days of rain to much of Battambang province, Samlot district above all.

Samlot is a major catchment area for the Battambang multipurpose reservoir. Large volumes of rainwater have been flowing quickly into the reservoir, pushing water levels well above maximum capacity, the department said.

Evacuations in Pailin

Parts of Pailin province bordering Battambang were also flooded, forcing a number of families to leave their homes.

Pailin governor Ban Sreymom said on Friday that rain was still falling and water levels kept climbing. Although crews had worked through the night to open floodgates and drain several areas, conditions remained dangerous.

She called on residents, especially those in Steung Trang commune in Sala Krao district and other communities close to streams and rivers, to move temporarily to higher ground.

Rescue teams and security forces at all levels were on standby around the clock to help residents, she added.