Posted on February 5, 2025
Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changva District Administration clarified that the three bank collapse incidents along the Mekong River were caused by natural factors, and not by sand dredging, as some media outlets had claimed. Two instances occurred in Prek Leap commune and one took place in Bak Kheng commune of Chroy Changva district.
The administration noted that no sand dredging licenses have been issued in the district for the past ten years, nor has any such activity occurred in the area.
Yesterday, the Chroy Changva District Administration issued a statement refuting the misleading social media report about the landslide on the Mekong River in Chroy Changva district being an outcome of sand dredging. The February 3 Radio Free Asia (RFA Khmer) claimed that “This river bank collapse was caused by sand dredging”. As a result there was great confusion among the public.
The district administration of Chroy Changva pointed out that the real cause of the three landslides in Prek Leap commune and Bak Kheng commune of Chroy Changvar was natural factors and not sand dredging. It highlighted the fact that not a single licence for sand dredging has been issued for more than ten years by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
It hit out at RFA for its social media post, accusing it of slander, fabrication of facts and unjust blame on authorities without any evidence or basis.
It expressed regret and disappointment at the actions of the media organisation for making their broadcast with no clear legal basis, misleading both the public as well as the media. It criticised the conduct of the organisation for creating the misconception that the competent authorities were not carrying out their duties responsibly.
Following the landslides that washed away three houses of villagers along the Mekong River, Governor of Phnom Penh Khuong Sreng on Sunday directed the local authorities to take the necessary measures to stop soil erosion. Sreng also issued orders to the local authorities to ensure that the displaced soil is replaced with concrete construction or sandbags in the area of the landslides.
