The Government of Cambodia has decided to cancel the annual traditionalboat race next month in Phnom Penh due to great losses caused byMekong flash floods.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, inhis decision dated October 6, said Mekong floods due to high waterlevel have severely inundated rice fields, destroyed public works andcaused property losses and claimed human lives.
Tofocus on flood issues, the Government decides to suspend the celebrationof the festival, which is planned on Nov. 15-18 on Tonle Sap Riverin front of the Royal Palace, according to the document.
According to the National Committee for Disaster Management, thefloods have claimed at least 30 lives, forced 7,900 families to fleehomes and inundated over 62,000 houses, 385 schools and 245 pagodas.
Floods have been affecting 10 out of the kingdom's 24 cities and provinces in the last three weeks.
Boat race or Water Festival is the largest annual festival in theSoutheast Asian nation which is held in full moon of the tenth lunarmonth.
It is the third consecutive year that the country has canceled the festival.
The cancellation in 2011 was due to flood devastation, which killed atleast 250 people and the cancellation in 2012 was due to the death offormer King Norodom Sihanouk.-VNA
Prime Minister Hun Sen, inhis decision dated October 6, said Mekong floods due to high waterlevel have severely inundated rice fields, destroyed public works andcaused property losses and claimed human lives.
Tofocus on flood issues, the Government decides to suspend the celebrationof the festival, which is planned on Nov. 15-18 on Tonle Sap Riverin front of the Royal Palace, according to the document.
According to the National Committee for Disaster Management, thefloods have claimed at least 30 lives, forced 7,900 families to fleehomes and inundated over 62,000 houses, 385 schools and 245 pagodas.
Floods have been affecting 10 out of the kingdom's 24 cities and provinces in the last three weeks.
Boat race or Water Festival is the largest annual festival in theSoutheast Asian nation which is held in full moon of the tenth lunarmonth.
It is the third consecutive year that the country has canceled the festival.
The cancellation in 2011 was due to flood devastation, which killed atleast 250 people and the cancellation in 2012 was due to the death offormer King Norodom Sihanouk.-VNA
