BANTEAY MEANCHEY: Nearly 1,000 troops of the 51st Infantry Brigade are on standby to intervene in flooding emergencies and other natural disasters that may occur in Banteay Meanchey along the Thai border in the coming days.

Brigadier General Sing Tum, Commander of the 51st Brigade, said that Banteay Meanchey Province is affected by floods every year and needs requires local authorities to join with military forces for the cause of the nation, motherland and people. He also thanked all the leaders and soldiers of the brigade for preparing troops, facilities and equipment to stand at the ready, day and night, in accordance with orders from his superiors.

On Friday, Prime Minister Hun Manet issued orders to the military and local authorities across Cambodia to be ready to assist victims in the event of flooding, as climate disasters worsen every year. In August, heavy rains affected more than 20,000 households in 19 out of 25 provinces, leaving four dead and damaging tens of thousands of hectares of agricultural production.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology said that the low pressure system along the Mekong Basin near Thailand and Laos is heading south and will provide a weak southwest monsoon to Cambodia. Meanwhile, the 14th tropical storm in the region this year, named Koinu, is moving across the Pacific towards landfall in southeastern China on October 7, but is unlikely to severely affect Cambodia.

The ministry says that 40-60% northwest and northeast provinces are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall from October 2-4. Between 60-80% of the southeastern provinces and capital can expect the same.

The extended rainfall and subsequent rising rivers have prompted pre-emptive emergency responses throughout the country where various ministries, military units and local authorities are preparing for rescue and rebuild efforts.