In the first three months of this year, storms and lightning killed three people, injured five and damaged more than 150 houses and public buildings, according to data from the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM).
In Siem Reap province, Puok district police chief Tep Pumsen said rain and strong winds on Saturday evening destroyed 33 houses in three communes – 27 in Trei Nhoar and six in Lvea and Sososdom communes.
“Five of the [six] houses collapsed while another one caught fire. Fortunately, no one died or was injured in the incident. The other houses saw the roofs wiped off,” he said.
In Battambang province’s Rukhak Kiri district, two days of storms blew away the roof of the district police’s dormitory and ravaged 22 houses in Bassac and Sdok Praveuk communes.
The two cases in Battambang and Siem Reap brought the number of houses destroyed by storms since January to 156, NCDM adviser Keo Vy said on Sunday.
“The phenomena of rain with whirlwind in the first three months of this year totaled 24 cases. It decreased by 15 cases compared to the same period last year, though fatalities were similar at seven.
“In the first three months of this year, two people were killed and five injured. In the same period last year, seven people were injured but no one died.
“This year, lightning also killed one person in Takeo province. Last year, three people were killed and three others injured by lighting,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology called on people who are vulnerable to such phenomena to be more cautious.
It also announced that current maximum temperature is between 35C and 38C, while early rain would begin to fall in most parts of the country.
“Strong wind and lightning will occur more frequently during the rainy season. Thus, everyone must be more cautious of possible natural disasters,” it said.
