83 die in Cambodian floods

Floods in Cambodia continues to rise and more than 80 people have been reported dead, including 39 children, as flooding along Mekong River provinces continues. Heavy flooding is hitting 12 provinces along the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, as well as Phnom Penh, closing schools and hospitals as well as pagodas where Buddhism ceremonies were not festive and cheerful. VOA Khmer's Kong Sothanarith reports from Kandal province.

There have been heavy floods and rainfall in Cambodia for the last three weeks

At least 83 people died and more than 800,000 were affected by floods in Mekong and heavy rainfall in Cambodia in the last three weeks, an official said Monday.

"Up to now, 83 people have died of drowning and over 800,000 people have been affected in 15 flood-hit areas," Nhim Vanda, vice-president of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), told Xinhua.

Flash floods in Mekong river severely affected some areas in northwestern cities such as Siem Reap Angkor, Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Pailin.

"In Siem Reap province, water situation is still at an alarming level and more than 4,000 houses have been submerged and over 6,000 families have fled to the higher areas," he said.

"Authorities have been evacuating affected people to safer places and emergency relief from charitable groups and the Cambodian Red Cross has been provided to the affected families," Vanda said.

Earlier, a large tree collapsed and damaged the 12th century Preah Khan temple in the Angkor Archeological Park complex due to heavy rain.

Floods usually hit the country between August and October. In 2011, 250 people died in Cambodia due to the floods, according to the NCDM.