Ratanakkiri provincial authorities have evacuated people living in the lowlands along the Srepok River to higher ground as the rising water of the river has caused flooding affecting at least three communes.

Um Sovanna, director of the provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology, confirmed to The Post that the Sre Pok water level has already exceeded the emergency level – pegged at 12.50m – by 0.30cm as of 10am on August 11.

Khlol Heug, the police chief of Lumphat district, told The Post that the flooding is affecting 13 villages in three communes: Chey Uddom, Seda and Kaleng.

More than 300 families have been evacuated to safe ground prepared in their respective commune, he said, noting that the water level keeps increasing gradually.