June 24, 2025
PHNOM PENH – At least two people are missing after flash flooding swept away roads in Preah Sihanouk and Koh Kong provinces on Sunday, June 22.
Sum Daravuth, chief of commune 1 in Sihanoukville town, said on Monday, June 23 that a 54-year-old woman named Try Phally went missing while riding her motorbike home along the road to Kbal Chhay resort, which had been cut off by floodwaters earlier that Sunday morning.
“She works as a cook in Sihanoukville and was returning home on Kbal Chhay road and went missing. She hasn’t been found yet — only the motorbike was recovered. Our team is continuing to search,” he said.
Provincial governor Mang Sineth confirmed that heavy rain continued into the morning of June 22, causing flooding in the Kbal Chhay area. The floodwaters washed out a 20-metre stretch of road leading to the resort at PK4.70, located in commune 1.
To prevent further harm and ensure safety, the provincial administration has advised locals and tourists to temporarily refrain from visiting Kbal Chhay and avoid traveling along the damaged road section until further notice is issued regarding its reopening.
In a separate incident, Chib Sarith, head of the Education, Youth and Sports Office in Koh Kong province’s Kiri Sakor district, went missing on the same day after attempting to swim across a flooded section of road in Tanei village, in Phnhi Meas commune.
Prior to crossing to help repair a bridge that had been damaged by floodwaters, Sarith had put on a life jacket. However, the strong current swept him into a culvert, and he has not been seen since. Search operations continued through Monday afternoon when water levels came down.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology reported that low pressure over the South China Sea is currently affecting the Andaman Sea, Gulf of Thailand and Upper Mekong Basin, as well as influencing southwest monsoon patterns and weather conditions across Cambodia.
From June 23 to 25, these conditions are expected to cause rain accompanied by thunder and high wind gusts, over 20% of lowland areas including: Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pursat, Kampong Chhnang, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Tboung Khmum, Prey Veng, Kandal, Takeo, Svay Rieng and Phnom Penh.
In the highland areas, similar weather may affect up to 25% of the land surface, particularly in Kampong Speu, Pailin, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Kratie, Stung Treng, Ratanakkiri, Mondulkiri, the Dangrek Mountain range and the Cardamom Mountain range.
For the coastal regions, including Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep and the Bokor Mountain range, rain, thunder and wind gusts winds may affect up to 30% of the area.