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South East Asia – Thousands Evacuate as Rivers Rise

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Cambodia
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Floodlist
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1 AUGUST, 2018 BY RICHARD DAVIES

Overflowing rivers have caused severe flooding in parts of South East Asia over the last few days. Around 8,000 people have evacuated their homes in parts of Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

Meanwhile at least 100 people are still missing after a dam collapsed in Laos and over 120,000 people have been displaced by flooding in parts of Myanmar.

Vietnam

The overflowing Bui River has caused major flooding in Chuong My district, a suburb of Hanoi, capital of Vietnam.

Vietnam’s Disaster Management Authority (DMA) said that 2,700 houses have been flooded and over 5,000 people have been relocated. Local media report that at least 2 people have died in the floods in Chuong My. Roads, bridges and farmland have also suffered severe damage.

On July 30 the level of the Bui river (Sông Bùi) in Chuong My district peaked at 7.52m, about 1m higher than the third warning level. It has since fallen to 7.29m as of 01 August. Authorities in Hanoi have worked to shore up flood defences along river embankments.

Cambodia

Government sources in Cambodia say that, as of 30 July, flooding has damaged over 1,000 houses and 653 hectares of monsoon rice in Kratie province.

According to the Mekong River Commission, the Mekong stood at 21.72 metres in Kratie, capital of Kratié Province, as of 01 August, 2018. Alarm stage is 22 metres and flood stage 23 metres.

Meanwhile in Tboung Khmum Province, more than 600 families living along the Mekong River were evacuated on 31 July and moved to higher ground, according to local media.

Thailand

In Thailand, Officials are closely monitoring the rising water level of the Mekong River after heavy rain over the last few days.

The Mekong has already caused some flooding in Nakhon Phanom Province in northeastern Thailand, along the border with Laos. The province has already declared the districts of Ban Phaeng, Tha Uthen, Phon Sawan, That Phanom, Renu Nakhon, Pla Pak, Ban Phaeng and Muang Nakhon Phanom flood disaster zones.

According to Thai news agency NNT, the Mekong River in Ubon Ratchathani province has risen to 15.27 metres, 77 cm above its banks. Around 300 homes have been flooded.

The Mekong River in Nong Khai province stood at 9.26 metres as of 01 August, around 3 metres below critical level.

In Mukdahan province the river is at 12.54m, above flood level of 12.5m. Flooding has already been reported in several districts and the river is forecast to reach above the 13 metres mark by 03 August.

Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has sought cooperation from 41 provinces across the country to prepare for possible flooding and mudslides as heavy rains continue.