PHNOM PENH, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Thursday called on authorities to pay high attention to evacuate people as floods have hit six provinces in the country.
"According to the weather forecast, a tropical depression is brewing over Cambodia, causing rainfall subsequently and some provinces are suffering from rain floods," he said in a government notice.
The affected provinces included Kampot, Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong, Kampong Speu, Battambang, and Pailin, the prime minister said, adding that the water in the Mekong River is also on the rise due to rainfall in neighboring Laos and Thailand.
Hun Sen said all ministries and institutions concerned as well as authorities must well prepare for flooding to rescue affected residents.
Keo Vy, a spokesman for the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), said Thursday that some 1,079 flood-hit families have been evacuated to safe locations.
"To date, there is no any report of casualties thanks to efforts made by our authorities," he told Xinhua, adding that nearly 4,000 hectares of rice paddy and other crops have been submerged.
Floods usually hit Cambodia between July and October. In 2011, the Southeast Asian country suffered the worst from floods, killing up to 250 people, according to the NCDM.