Cambodian floods force evacuation of over 1,600 prisoners

Local villagers wade through a flooded street following recent rains in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. - AP

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua): Cambodian authorities have been evacuating about 1,612 inmates from a prison in Northwest Banteay Meanchey province on Tuesday (Oct 13) after heavy flooding has filled the cells, a prison chief said.

"Some 811 of the prisoners were already taken by bus from the flooded Banteay Meanchey provincial prison to the Siem Reap provincial prison on Tuesday morning," Ung Siphan, chief of the Banteay Meanchey provincial prison, told Xinhua via telephone.