Phnom Penh: Prime Minister Hun Sen and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Prak Sokhonn have both expressed their condolences to Luxembourg after last week’s floods. The Prime Minister sent a letter to Luxembourg’s Prime Minister, Mr. Xavier Bettel, while the Foreign Minister’s letter was addressed to his Luxembourg counterpart, Jean Asselborn.

The Prime Minister expressed “profound sadness to learn that the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has been affected by the flooding which caused dozens of people to be evacuated from their homes.” He went on to say that “on behalf of the government of and the people of Cambodia, I would like to express my sincere sympathy to you and the people of Luxembourg, especially the victims, at this difficult time.”

In his letter, the Foreign Minister wrote that he was “deeply saddened to learn about the flooding” and “at this difficult juncture, please allow me to express my sincere sympathy to you and the people of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, especially the innocent victims of this havoc.”

Luxembourg was affected by the floods that swept across much of Western Europe last week, although no lives were lost in the Duchy. Its Fire and Rescue Service, CGDIS, said Born, Steinheim, Rosport and Echternach were the worst affected. After initially warning residents in affected areas to stay in their homes, over 150 people were evacuated in Echternach, which is situated on the Sauer river on the border with Germany. Evacuations were also reported in Rosport and a small number of people were also evacuated in Vianden.
CGDIS and police carried out more than 1,200 weather-related interventions across the country on 15 July. They said damage was “significant”.

MeteoLux reported that the torrential rains broke two records for the month of July at the weather station at Luxembourg-Findel Airport. The maximum precipitation in 12 hours and 24 hours reached 74.2 mm and 79.4 mm, respectively, beating the previous records set on 22 July 2016 of 60.4 mm and 70.6 mm.