Saturday, August 28, 2010

New Flooding in Cambodia (2001)

Just like last year, the start of the monsoon season has brought abundant rains and has pushed the water level of the Mekong to record highs. Right now the situation in the Upper Mekong region is the worst. Parts of the towns of Stung Treng and Kratie are flooded and only accessible by boat.
Further south, lower lying parts of Kompong Cham have also been inundated and a bridge on National Road no.6 has been damaged and is being repaired. Right now visitors wanting to reach Kompong Cham, Kompong Thom or Siem Reap by road, best take the speedboat Phnom Penh-Kpg Cham or Phnom Penh-Siem Reap or they have to use National Rd No.5 and then cross the Tonle Bassac on the Prek Kdam ferry near Oudong. Material damages have reached 15 millions of US Dollars and 35 people have died so far. Waters are due to receded in the next days.
At the moment there is no need to postpone trips to Cambodia, as the cities of Phnom Penh and the temples at Angkor are not affected and can be visited as usual. Some adjustments might be needed for overland trips to Kompong Cham.

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