Following a massive explosion at a military base in south-western Cambodia that resulted in the deaths of 20 soldiers, heightened security measures were observed around the site in Kompong Speu province.
Guards were deployed to restrict media access to the area, where the explosion occurred.
Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed his deep shock over the incident, which took place in the Chbar Mon district.
The cause of the explosion remains unknown. Images from the scene depicted severely damaged buildings within the base, with soldiers receiving medical treatment at nearby hospitals.
Nearby residences also suffered damage, with roofs punctured by the force of the blast.
Colonel Youeng Sokhon, an army officer stationed at the site, reported that four buildings — three designated for storage and one serving as a work facility — were obliterated by the explosion.
Additionally, numerous military vehicles sustained damage in the blast. The collateral impact extended beyond the base, with 25 homes belonging to villagers also bearing the brunt of the destruction.
Photographs capturing the aftermath depicted the extent of the devastation, showcasing the ruined structures scattered across a vast field.
Notably, no civilian buildings appeared to be in close proximity to the affected area.
One resident, identified only as Sophal, recounted the terrifying sequence of events. He recounted hearing a sudden, piercing sound followed by the sight of smoke billowing from the direction of the army base.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Sophal swiftly sought refuge in his home, hastily gathering his family to shelter inside.
As panic swept through the community, the military swiftly sealed off access to the base, leaving villagers scrambling in search of safety.
The chaotic scene underscored the urgent need for residents to find sanctuary amid the unfolding crisis.
After evacuating his family to his parents’ residence, situated farther from the base, Sophal returned to his own house hours later.
To his relief, he found his home unscathed, but the same could not be said for neighboring villagers.
Many residences bore the brunt of the blast, with broken windows, doors, and roofs serving as stark reminders of the explosion’s force.
The incident unfolded amid an enduring heat wave sweeping across Cambodia and much of the region.
The province where the explosion occurred experienced scorching temperatures, reaching a sweltering high of 39°C on Saturday.
While elevated temperatures typically do not trigger ammunition detonation, they pose a different risk: the gradual degradation of explosives’ stability over time. In such conditions, even a minor explosion can ignite a fire, setting off a dangerous chain reaction.
Kiripost, an online English-language news service, reported villager Pheng Kimneang’s harrowing eyewitness account of a major explosion at approximately 2:30 p.m., followed by subsequent smaller blasts over the course of about an hour.
Expressing profound sympathy, Prime Minister Hun Manet conveyed condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, assuring government support for their funerals and offering compensation to both the deceased and the wounded.
A West Point graduate and former army commander, Hun Manet succeeded his father, Hun Sen, as Cambodia’s prime minister last year, following his 38-year tenure.
US Ambassador Patrick Murphy also took to social media platform X to extend heartfelt condolences to the affected soldiers’ families.
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