Storms damage nearly 60 homes

Nearly 60 homes in Battambang and Pailin provinces were damaged by storms on Monday caused by unseasonal rain, however no injuries or deaths were reported.



Mey Chunsan, the deputy police chief of Battambang’s Bavel district, said yesterday the storm hit at about 5:30pm and damaged 23 homes, five of which were vacant, 14 sustained roof damage and four were destroyed.



“The authorities are helping to repair their homes and there are also many organizations that have provided rice and materials to the victims,” he said.



Sous Nak, the deputy police chief of Battambang’s Kamrieng district, said the storm destroyed 20 homes in his district on Monday night, including eight that collapsed to the ground.



“Nobody was injured, but the provincial and deputy governor went to check on and provide support to those people in the afternoon,” he said.



In Battambang’s Sampov Loun district, one home was badly damaged by the storm, according to deputy district police chief Hel Horl.



Police from the three districts say the storms damaged only homes and appliances while sparing people and animals.



In Pailin province’s Sala Krau district, the storm damaged 13 homes including three that were destroyed.



Deputy district police chief Soy Thin said Pailin province had experienced only flooding in recent years.



“If there was rain, there was no accompanying storm. This is the first time that peoples’ homes were damaged like this,” he said.



On March 6, the Meteorology Ministry warned of unseasonal rain along the Cambodia-Thailand border and coastal areas with thunder, lightning and storms possible from March 7 until March 13.



The ministry said the rain would occur across most of the country and last for several days, with highs from 32 to 35C.



Keo Vy, a cabinet chief and a spokesman for the National Committee for Disaster Management, said through a preliminary report that disasters have only occurred in Battambang and Pailin provinces.



He said rain mixed with thunder, lightning and storms often occur in April or May every year, but it happened earlier this year.



“Provincial authorities have already given notice through the media to public and private institutions for citizen to be careful on

the issue,” he said. “We believe people and local authorities will pay attention to the problem which will allow people to be ready in the event of a disaster.



“They can protect themselves and reduce some risks.”



A disaster management committee report said that in 2016, there were 279 storms that completely destroyed 1,997 houses and tore the roofs off 8,147 others. The storms killed 21 people and injured 193.