Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Stung Treng bridge collapses as floodwaters plague nation

Stung Treng bridge collapses as floodwaters plague nation

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The Kong Sen Chey bridge in Stung Treng province has collapsed due to erosion from floodwaters. provincial information department

Stung Treng bridge collapses as floodwaters plague nation

At least 69 houses along the Mekong River in Kampong Cham province have been relocated since the beginning of this month because of a collapsed riverbank.

In the meantime, the 260-metre Kong Sen Chey bridge over the Sekong River in Stung Treng province’s Siam Pang district collapsed over the weekend.

Stung Treng Provincial Hall spokesperson Men Kong told The Post on Monday that the bridge, located near the Cambodian-Lao border, collapsed on Saturday due to heavy rainfall that caused the land to subside.

“We have sent engineers to investigate and assess the damages. The collapse was caused by flooding due to the heavy rainfall daily, which made the land underneath subside at one end of the bridge.

“The bridge was constructed nearly one year ago, but the floodwaters gradually swept away the land at one end of the bridge. It broke almost in its middle on Saturday, disrupting traffic,” Kong said.

Fields submerged

Since the beginning of this month, floods have submerged 5,068ha of residential land, over 2,000ha of agriculture land, 1,637ha of rice fields and 244ha of agriculture crops. It also claimed four lives.

In Kampong Cham province, Khorn Bros, head of the permanent secretariat of the Committee for Disaster Management, said flooding had affected 37,170 families in nine districts that comprise of 54 communes and 280 villages.

He said flooding had submerged 7,032ha of rice fields in the districts – three hectares in Koh Soutin, 427ha in Stung Trang, 4,965ha in Srey Santhor, 201ha in Choeung Prey, 1,256ha in Batheay, 112ha in Prey Chor, and 68ha in Kampong Siem.

Flooding in the province has so far inundated 28,451 homes, 49 pagodas, seven mosques, 80 schools, six health centres and 17 bridges, while 4,869 people have been evacuated. Livestock totalling 5,661 animals have also been relocated to 15 different hills.

Bros said that flooding had also caused the river bank to collapse.

“We relocated 69 houses from the river bank for fears of further collapse. All the families have moved to higher grounds for safety,” he said.

Separately, on August 27, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries held an internal meeting to lay out measures in the event of flooding and drought in the Kingdom.

The meeting was held after the Mekong River floods and flooding triggered by heavy rainfall inundated more than 10 provinces and killed 30 people, while drought also ravaged eight other provinces.

The National Committee for Disaster Management spokesman Keo Vy told The Post on Monday that the Mekong river floods continued to affect six provinces – Stung Treng, Kratie, Tbong Khmum, Kampong Cham, Kandal, and Prey Veng provinces – last month.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Newest horror film showcases unique Khmer culture, identity

    At first glance, the trailer to new horror sensation The Ritual: Black Nun looks like a western-produced feature film. As the story reveals itself to the viewers, it becomes clearer that this is a Khmer film, with a strong Cambodian identity and close links to

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one

  • Water supply authority assures public shortages over early ‘24

    The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) asked for understanding from Phnom Penh residents in some communes where water pressure is weak. They assured residents that all supply issues will be resolved by early 2024, but have suggested that residents use water sparingly in the meantime.

  • Khmer ballet documentary debuts April 1

    A new documentary, The Perfect Motion, or Tep Hattha in Khmer, will premiere to the public on April 1. The documentary film follows two intertwined storylines: the creation of a show called Metamorphosis by the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (her very last production) and the