Flood death toll rises to 141 in Cambodia

At least 141 people were reported dead in the Mekong River and flash floods hitting Cambodia since last month, according to the report of the National Committee for Disaster Management on Friday. The interim report recorded that from August 13 to September 29, the flash and Mekong River floods have inundated 15 cities and provinces and had killed 141 people. Of the figure, Prey Veng province has the highest death toll of 39 people, Kampong Cham has 32 deaths, Kampong Thom, 22, and Kratie, 19. Besides human life claims, the floods have affected 173,063 people and forced another 17,273 people evacuated for higher grounds. Also, 130,220 homes have been inundated. The report said that about 269,953 hectares of rice paddies have been affected and another 61,473 hectares were completely damaged. About 817 schools and 358 Buddhist pagodas have been submerged and some 100 kilometers of national roads were affected, it said.