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Japan’s 20-year mission to tackle flooding in capital nearing finish
Thu, 25 February 2021
Great strides have been made in addressing severe flooding during rainy season due to over-stressed drainage systems – Phnom Penh’s perennial problem.
On the confluence of three rivers – the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Tonle Bassac – the capital’s natural topography leaves it susceptible to flooding.
The economic costs were immense, with houses and markets submerged, while backed-up sewers created an unhygienic environment.
Flood protection and drainage infrastructure built during the French colonial administration and later in the 1960s were damaged, with poor maintenance during years of conflict exacerbating the problem.