Twenty families lost their homes when a riverbank collapsed into the Mekong yesterday in Kandal’s Loeuk Dek district, according to local authorities.

Nov Samnang, Loeuk Dek district governor, said yesterday that three houses were partially submerged in the river, while 17 others were intentionally dismantled to avoid suffering the same fate.

Samnang said that the riverbank began to fall into the river on Friday afternoon. After the first three houses were damaged by the collapse, other villagers evacuated and dismantled their homes. Nobody was injured during the incident.

“The riverbank falling was not caused by human activity, but because of a strong current,” Samnang said.

Thoem Sok, CNRP commune chief for Peam Raing, said that the homes were located on a narrow strip of land 20 metres from the Mekong River on one side and 20 metres from National Road 14 on the other.

Sok also maintained that the collapse was not due to sand dredging or other human activity. “The water did not rise much, but the bank just gradually collapsed,” he added.

The displaced villagers have no other land to live on, but Sok did not know if authorities will give them any monetary assistance or provide them with another place to stay. The Cambodian Red Cross donated $50 to each family, Sok said.