12 Cambodians drowned, other 5,700 families affected by Mekong River flood

 PHNOM PENH, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Mekong River flood had killed 12 Cambodians and affected 5,700 families living along the river, concluded Nhim Vanda, vice president of Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management, on Friday as the flood has receded.
   “Most of the deaths were Children due to their parents’ negligence,” he said, adding that besides claiming lives, the flood has also inundated 30,226 hectares of rice fields before its drop.
   “Now, the water levels in the provinces of Stung Treng, Kratie and Kampong Cham have dropped to the levels below the emergency levels,” he said. “However, we still appeal to residents along the river to be high vigilant as the flood can re-rise in next month as it was in previous habit.”
   The Mekong flood has begun earlier this month in Cambodia’s provinces of Stung Treng, Kratie and Kampong Cham and it has gradually dropped in recent days.
   Cambodia is located in tropical zone, and is rarely affected by heavy storm or tornado, except flooding.