Sophorn Confirms Flooding and Floating Debris in Parliament Building Caused by Heavy Rainwater, Orders Improvements
Heavy rainfall flooded Parliament's basement on May 21, prompting Speaker Sophorn to order drainage improvements and implement stricter waste management across the building.
On May 22, 2569, Parliament Speaker Sophorn Sarum gave an interview regarding the heavy rainfall that flooded the B1 basement garbage storage area on May 21, resulting in widespread floating debris. Sophorn explained that while the Parliament building's open-air design had been criticized as a construction flaw, he inspected the premises firsthand and found that heavy rainfall caused water to flow from the first-floor vehicle ramp down to the basement, overwhelming the small drainage pipes. He conducted a full inspection of all floors, particularly the ninth floor which is an open-air area with undersized drainage pipes, causing flooding problems during heavy rain. Sophorn ordered fixes to address the design flaws, such as uncovered emergency stairwells, to prevent such issues from recurring. Regarding garbage management, Sophorn stated: "I have instructed a comprehensive waste separation program in coordination with Parliament administration. We have implemented concrete waste separation measures during all plenary sessions and Senate meetings, where we discovered significant garbage volume. Therefore, we must prioritize waste segregation and request cooperation from all staff not to litter. These measures will be strictly enforced going forward." When asked about the effectiveness of the Parliament's energy-saving measures, Sophorn said he would provide comparative data showing electricity usage before and after the measures, noting preliminary results showing reduced utility costs.
