KANDAL: The Governor of Kandal Province, with the approval of the Prime Minister of Cambodia, has decided to build a bridge in Koh Chamroeun village, Leuk Daek district, where the recent ferry boat accident occurred, to facilitate the lives of residents and prevent such a tragedy from occurring again. 

This decision comes after the victims and residents of Koh Chamroeun village requested the Royal Government to help build a bridge to facilitate their safe travel over the river. Residents and students in the area have long-complained about the difficulty they face crossing the river.  

Speaking to EAC News over telephone on Wednesday, 19 October, the Deputy Governor of Kandal Province, Nou Peng Chandara, confirmed that the Governor of Kandal Province, Kong Sophoan, attended the seven-day funeral ceremony on Tuesday, 18 October, to inform the families of the 11 victims that he has received approval from the Prime Minister to build a new bridge in the village. 

According to the Deputy Governor, the authorities are currently studying the area and planning to build a bridge when the water recedes in the coming days.

"We have plans to build a bridge and we will study in-depth when the water recedes," he said.

Apart from the flood-hit Koh Chamroeun village, other areas in Kandal province are also facing flooding. Regarding this issue, Deputy Governor Nou Peng Chandara confirmed that the provincial authorities will inspect all affected areas as well.

The Director of the Culture Education and Tourism Relations Department of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, Chhort Bunthang, has said that he believes building a bridge at the site of the boat accident in Leuk Daek district is the most effective response to the incident, in order to eliminate and mitigate the risks posed by careless and unprotected boat trips across the river.

He added that the authorities and other stakeholders must also monitor and ensure that all boat drivers have the sufficient skill to drive the boats and are adults. In particular, he urged for a strengthening in technical oversight.

"The boat service provider or boat driver must be an adult and have the skills, experience, and attention to work, especially for the safety of passengers," he said. “Boats or ferries used as a means of transportation must also have all the safety features. In particular, the authorities must regularly monitor those who have the right to drive the boat, whether they are driving by the principles of waterway traffic rules.”

Chhort Bunthang also said he wants to see the government continue to build bridges in other locations to reduce the costs and dangers of boating as much as possible.

 The Director of the Department of Education, Youth and Sports of Kandal Province, Cheng Sam Ol, confirmed that after the incident, the Provincial Department of Education convened a meeting with schools in the flooded area to raise awareness among students about safety when crossing the river, and to utilize life jackets to avoid further tragedy in the future.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Ros Sovacha, said that the Ministry has called on students, teachers, education staff, parents, and all stakeholders to be vigilant during the rainy season. In particular, he advises parents and guardians to prevent their children from playing in the water due to the risk of drowning.

He stressed that the Ministry of Education is continuing to pay close attention to the weather situation, based on official meteorological forecasts and local conditions.

He added that the Ministry of Education also has a disaster management team in the education sector, which has continued to directly cooperate with all stakeholders, especially the management committee of educational institutions and local authorities, since last year, to ensure they are ready to intervene when needed.

On 13 October 2022 a ferry boat carrying 15 students sunk in Koh Chamroeun village, Kampong Phnom commune, Leuk Daek district, Kandal province, causing 11 deaths.

Authorities have since detained two boat owners and a boat driver and took them in for questioning.