PHNOM PENH, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia warned of flash floods during the upcoming Pchum Ben festival, or the Ancestor's Day, which will be celebrated from Sept. 27 to 29, according to a Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology's announcement on Monday.
The announcement said low pressure system is passing through the southern part of Cambodia that will cause moderate-to-heavy rainfall in the kingdom's cities and provinces, and at seaside, there can be slight-to-moderate rainfall.
"People should be extra-vigilant over flash floods that can occur, especially from Sept. 26 to 29," it said.
Keo Vy, a spokesman for the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), said Sunday that Mekong River floods and flash floods have caused 16 people dead and five others injured in the country so far this month.
He said the floods have hit parts of eight provinces, namely Kratie, Stung Treng, Kampong Cham, Tboung Khmum, Kampong Thom, Prey Veng, Kandal and Preah Vihear, since early this month.
"About 89,722 families were affected, and 14,583 of them were evacuated to higher ground," he told Xinhua.
Floods usually hit Cambodia between August and October. Last year, Mekong River floods and flash floods killed a total of 63 people, according to the NCDM.
