Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia – A tragic explosion at an army base took the lives of 20 soldiers and injured several others, including a child, over the weekend. The blast, which occurred in rural Kampong Speu province, devastated the area by destroying an entire truck of munitions and leveling buildings.
Cambodia’s defense ministry attributed the explosion to a combination of old, faulty weapons and the intense heatwave that has been sweeping across Southeast Asia. The ministry announced on Thursday that investigators believed the heat played a role in causing the outdated weapons to detonate, leading to the deadly incident.
Despite the devastating consequences of the explosion, the defense ministry was quick to dismiss any suggestions of the blast being a result of rebellious soldiers or an act of terrorism. This tragic event highlights the dangers posed by the abundance of ammunition, mines, and unexploded ordnance still present in Cambodia due to decades of civil conflict.
The incident also shed light on the lax safety standards that exacerbate such accidents in the country. With temperatures in some areas reaching as high as 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit), authorities have issued warnings about the extreme heat and its potential risks to the population.
In the aftermath of the explosion, photos shared on social media captured the destruction at the army base, showing a one-story building engulfed in smoke and residents of a nearby village sharing images of broken windows. Civilians, including a young child, were seen with cuts and gashes, receiving treatment at local hospitals.
Prime Minister Hun Manet promised financial assistance to the families of the fallen soldiers, offering approximately US$20,000 to each family. Injured soldiers would receive US$5,000 to help cover medical expenses and recovery costs. As Cambodia grapples with the aftermath of this tragedy, authorities are working to ensure the safety and well-being of their citizens amid the ongoing challenges posed by the heatwave.