Flash floods hit parts of Cambodia, killing 7 people

Flash floods have been hitting some parts of three provinces in Cambodia and have claimed seven lives so far, officials said Monday. Keo Vy, chief of the Cabinet of National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), said northwestern Banteay Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces as well as northern Kampong Thom province have been flooding with heavy rains since last week and some 450 families have been evaluated to higher grounds. He added that some 230 houses and around 3,000 hectares of rice paddy have been submerged. Governor of Banteay Meanchey province Try Narin said that seven people including 3 children in the province have drowned since last week. Floods usually hit Cambodia between August and October. In 2011, the country was hit the worst from floods, killing up to 250 people, according to the NCDM. Last year, the floods claimed 14 people's lives.