Kampong Speu provincial authorities yesterday issued an order banning heavy trucks from using National Road 4 in Phnom Sruoch district’s Maha Saing commune in response to heavy flooding in the area.

Hong Chansokha, provincial director of the Public Works and Transport Department, yesterday rerouted vehicles travelling on National Road 4 – which connects the capital to Preah Sihanouk province – directing drivers to National Road 3 instead.

“People who wish to travel via National Road 4 . . . unless necessary, please use National Road 3 instead, especially heavy trucks,” Chansokha said.

The flood – which has completely engulfed Street 143 and 1,000 metres of concrete road linking Svay Kravan commune’s Kravan village to Tras Sala village – was exacerbated by the collapse of a dam in Samrong Tong district’s Thommada Or commune, he said.

In Kong Pisei district, another of the four flooded districts in Kampong Speu, Provincial Governor Vi Samnang said authorities were working to repair four leaking dams.

“We are now filling the soil to repair them in order to prevent the houses in 18 villages [accounting for 2,577 families living near the dam] from being flooded,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Banteay Meanchey province, Mongol Borei District Governor Long Pun said four communes in the district – Chamnoam, Soeu, Rahat Teuk, and Bot Trang – face extensive damage from flooding.