Two deaths in Stung Treng province and the death of a child in Kampong Cham yesterday brought the human toll of this year’s flooding to nine lives so far, authorities said.

In Kratie, provincial governor Kham Chamnarn said that high waters had forced the temporary closure of National Road 73, a measure “aimed at avoiding accidents”.

In Kampong Cham, meanwhile, the river spilled its banks and into the provincial town, but barriers were shorn up with sandbags, and the affected areas pumped out, according to provincial governor Lun Lemthai.

Keo Vy, deputy director of the National Committee for Disaster Management, said yesterday that he was unable to offer an exact estimate of the losses caused by this year’s floods.

“We have added up some of the damage caused by the flooding,” he said.

“But we are waiting [for the final figures].”