Kampot flood blamed on clogged drain pipes

Kampot officials convened a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the town’s drainage problem, which was evident after early morning showers led to flooding in the streets. Residents and officials said the flooding had been unexpected, both because it was not yet the wet season and because the river had not overflowed its banks.

By: Phnom Penh Post

OFFICIALS in Kampot town met on Tuesday to discuss drainage problems after early morning showers resulted in flooding despite the fact that the river had not overflowed its banks.

Kampot town Governor Leak Sovannary said the flood had been completely unexpected, and that he had convened a meeting Tuesday to discuss the issue. Read more>> “I have been living in Kampot for more than 20 years, and this is the first time we’ve had floods just from rain,” he said. “Some water [drainage]pipes were being repaired, and the water could not flow immediately. We had ordered the experts to repair and clean the rubbish in the pipes. So there was some flooding in the roads and houses, but no damage.”

Kristian Duncan, owner of the Rusty Keyhole restaurant on the riverfront, deemed the unseasonal storm “amazing”.

He added: “I was relieved, because when it started raining I thought, ‘Oh no, the river’s going to burst’. This had nothing to do with the river though; It was just the rain itself.”

Photo by: Phil Gordon

An early-morning storm caused flooding in the streets of Kampot on Tuesday.

Though his restaurant was not flooded, he said others had not been so lucky. “I received a call from [a friend] who owns the nightclub down the street, and his club already had about two inches of water,” he said.

Try Chhoun, provincial coordinator for the rights group Adhoc, said damage had been minimal.

“It did not damage the houses,” he said, adding: “It was so strange having a flood [caused by] rain in this month. Of course, it was caused by having a lot of rubbish in the water [drainage] pipes.”