Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday ordered authorities to closely monitor flood situation and prepare to evacuate people as the floods have killed at least 23 people in the last two weeks.

"According to weather forecast, the impact of low pressure system and Wutip typhoon has been causing heavy rains in the Mekong River basin and in Cambodia,"the premier said in a directive.

He said 14 out of 24 cities and provinces in the country have been facing Mekong River and flash floods.

"The government would like to advise concerned ministries and authorities to be on high alert and prepare rescue measures to evacuate people to safe grounds so that fatalities and property damage by floods will be reduced,"he said.

According to latest figures, 23 people, including 12 children, have drowned, Keo Vy, chief of the Cabinet of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), said Friday.

So far, 56,900 families have been affected and 5,900 families among them have been evacuated to higher grounds, he said.

In addition, more than 30,000 houses and 32,500 hectares of rice paddy were inundated.

"As water still continues to rise, there will be more people affected and evacuated in coming days,"he told Xinhua.

Floods usually hit Cambodia between August and October. In 2011, the country was hit the worst by floods which killed up to 250 people, according to the NCDM.

Last year, floods killed only 14 people.