At least 10 dead and 30 injured in Cambodia hotel-casino fire: police
A fire at a Cambodian hotel-casino has killed at least 10 and injured 30, police said Thursday, and neighboring Thailand sent fire engines to help fight the blaze in a busy border region.
Videos posted on social media showed people apparently jumping from windows after being trapped by the fire at the Grand Diamond City Casino and Hotel in the border town of Poipet. Thailand’s public broadcaster reported that dozens of Thais were trapped inside.
The fire that broke out around midnight Wednesday was still burning Thursday morning.
At least 10 people were killed and 30 others injured, some seriously, said Major General Sithi Loh, police chief for Banteay Meanchey province.
He said 360 rescue workers and 11 fire engines had been sent to the scene and rescue teams were searching for victims.
Sithi Loh said the cause of the fire was not yet known. The casino employed about 400 workers.
Thai PBS reported that 50 Thais, employees and customers, were trapped inside the casino complex. He said Cambodian authorities had requested help in dealing with the blaze from Thailand, which sent five fire engines and 10 rescue vans.
Firefighters spray water on the blaze Thursday morning.
People gather by a window to try to escape the fire.
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Rescuers transport an injured person to the hotel-casino.
Smoke billows from the Grand Diamond City hotel and casino.
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Poipet in western Cambodia is opposite the more affluent Thai town of Aranyaprathet, and cross-border trade and tourism are very active.
Thai PBS cited reports that the emergency department at Aranyaprathet Hospital was full and more victims needed to be sent to other hospitals.