At least 10 people have been killed in a fire at a casino hotel in northwestern Cambodia. More than 30 others were injured, a Poipet municipality spokesperson told The Phnom Penh Post on Thursday. Most of the fatalities are Cambodians and Thais. Many people were trapped by the flames.
The fire at the Grand Diamond City Hotel and Casino in Poipet on the border with neighboring Thailand broke out around midnight on Wednesday for reasons that are still unclear, local media reported. According to some reports, there was a gas explosion in the kitchen, but there was no official confirmation.
Videos on media and social media show people on window sills trying to escape the flames, some jumping off the ground. “Two people died instantly when they hit the ground,” a Thai rescue worker told CNN. “Four to five others broke their legs.” Others are said to have sought refuge on the roof of the building.
The fire is believed to have broken out on the first floor and then spread quickly, it was said. The flames would have surrounded the hotel and also spread to neighboring buildings. The fire was under control after about nine hours. More than 300 firefighters and helicopters were deployed. Rescuers also rushed to help from the nearby Thai town of Aranyaprathet.
Thai broadcaster PBS reported that the hotel on the border is popular with Thais because gambling is banned in their country. Poipet has about 100,000 inhabitants and is located about 350 kilometers from Phnom Penh, the capital of authoritarian Cambodia. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
