Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun has directed various departments to widen streams and canals at certain locations, in anticipation of the heavy rains expected in the town due to incoming storms and the southwest monsoon affecting the coastal region.
The governor's proactive measures come in response to Typhoon Talim and the southwest monsoon, forecasted to hit Cambodia between July 19-25.
According to the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, these weather phenomena are expected to bring moderate to heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, strong winds and high waves to coastal regions.
On July 20, Chamroeun issued an order to the provincial Department of Public Works and Transport, instructing it's officials to deploy machinery to widen streams and canals in Sihanoukville's Commune IV.
The instruction aims to prevent flooding from the expected heavy rainfall in certain areas of Sihanoukville.
Deputy provincial governor Long Dimanche said on July 22 that such preventive measures were not unusual.
"In general, the governor has always advised all relevant departments and taken action shortly after receiving weather information from the water resources ministry," he said.
"After learning of the meteorological forecast, we have prepared the machinery to dig up the canals and remove garbage from waterways. So when it rains, the water will flow correctly,” he added.
Dimanche also mentioned that, thanks to these measures, the situation has so far improved. And despite the heavy rain and inclement weather, no flooding had been reported.