ASEAN HEADLINE: CAMBODIA: Cambodia mourns 20 soldiers dead in base explosion
Photo: CNC
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20 military personnel were killed and several others injured in an explosion at an ammunition depot in Kampong Speu province
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — An ammunition explosion at a base in southwestern Cambodia on Saturday afternoon killed 20 soldiers and wounded several others, Prime Minister Hun Manet said. Hun Manet said in a Facebook post that he was “deeply shocked” when he received the news of the blast at the base in Kampong Speu
.On the afternoon of April 27, 2024, an explosion at an ammunition depot occurred in the military Region 3 in Chbarmorn City in Kampong Speu province, killing 20 soldiers and injuring several others.
Prime Minister Hun Manet wrote on his Facebook page on the night of April 27, expressing his shock at the news of an explosion in Kampong Speu province that left 20 soldiers dead and several other military personnel wounded.
He said that on behalf of the Royal Government and himself, he would like to express his deepest condolences to the families and the victims of this tragic incident.
“I have instructed H.E General Tea Seiha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, and H.E General Vong Pisen, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, to immediately arrange a funeral for the soldiers who were killed in this incident is appropriate for their sacrifice for the nation and the motherland,” Mr Hun Manet underlined.
Tea Seiha will represent Mr Hun Manet in paying his respects, and the Royal Government will be fully responsible for the funeral expenses.
At the same time, Mr Hun Manet also announced to provide financial support to the families of soldiers who died with $20,000 per family of the dead and 20 million riels for each soldier who was injured in this incident.
According to the Army of the 3rd Military Region report, the explosion of the munition’s depot occurred at 2.25 pm at the military region three at the Military Technical Depot.
The report added that according to the preliminary damage included 20 people (possibly dead), including 15 officers from Koh Kong province and five officers from the Regional Military Command.
Four buildings were severely damaged (ammunition in three warehouses was completely damaged, and one apartment building and an office building in the Regional Military Command were damaged, including doors, windows, and the roof), and 25 houses of villagers around the regional military headquarters were damaged.