KAMPOT: Heavy rains, winds, and thunderstorms have been pounding Cambodia’s provinces over the last month, causing flooding, road closures and death. Over the weekend, three people were swept away by a flash flood while camping at Kampot’s Omal Waterfall. Authorities are still searching for one of them.

Kampot Police Commissioner Major General Mao Chanmathurith told EAC News that as of now, the authorities are looking for one of the three victims who were swept away by a flash flood while camping at Omal Waterfall on the night of July 30,2023. He confirmed that on Sunday afternoon, authorities found the body of a female victim and rescued a male victim. Meanwhile the search continues for another female victim that was swept away by the flood.

According to the Kampot Provincial Police, the victims were among over 50 people staying at the Omal Waterfall campground Sunday night. They were camping on the path leading to the waterfall when a storm exacerbated a month of rain in the area, causing sudden, violent flooding around 3am, when the victims were swept away in their tent. So far, authorities have evacuated more than 50 tourists from Omal Falls to safety. They have called on the public to avoid camping near the falls until better weather prevails.

 Authorities in Kampot and Kep are closely monitoring the situation and praying for a reprieve from the rain. Kep Governor Som Piseth posted on his Facebook, “for the current flooding situation, we can control it if the rain does not continue.”

Meanwhile, the road to Sihanoukville has been closed due to heavy flooding and the government has asked travelers to take a detour or the Phnom-Penh Sihanoukville Expressway. On Sunday the Department of Public Works and Transport of Sihanoukville announced that National Road No. 4 near the Stung Samrong and Okorki bridges would be closed until further notice. Sihanoukville authorities have reported continued rain in the province that is causing injuries and damage to homes.