El Niño could leave the northeastern province of Ratanakiri facing mild to moderate water shortages and drought amid intense heat, according to the provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology’s monitoring, analysis of weather conditions and current meteorological data.
The provincial department said that during July 20–August 10, 2026, the development of El Niño was weakening the southwest monsoon, reducing rainfall in Ratanakiri to below the annual average. This situation could expose the province to mild to moderate water shortages and drought.
To reduce the effects, Ratanakiri’s Department of Water Resources and Meteorology called on local authorities to prepare plans to manage and allocate water resources effectively. Farmers should also plan to use water sparingly, choose crop varieties requiring less water or postpone planting in areas without sufficient water sources.
The public should conserve water in daily use and continue following notices from Ratanakiri’s Department of Water Resources and Meteorology. The department said it would continue to monitor weather conditions closely and update the public if there were significant changes.
On June 25, 2026, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet instructed the relevant institutions to store as much water as possible during the middle and later parts of the rainy season. This was to prepare for water shortages and higher temperatures in the 2027 dry season, which could last longer than usual because of El Niño.
The United Nations (UN) has also warned that the world should prepare for the return of El Niño, which could cause extreme weather, including heavy rain leading to floods and severe drought.
By: ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត
