Fire destroys 11 houses, damages 3 in Russei Keo

A fire destroyed 11 houses and damaged three neighbouring houses at around 1.20pm on Wednesday. The cause of the fire is thought to be a faulty kitchen stove which burst into flames, causing the occupants to flee the premises in Chong Khsach village, Tuol Sangke I commune, Russei Keo district, Phnom Penh.

Colonel Prom Yorn, Director of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police Fire Prevention and Rescue Office, said yesterday he dispatched his team of firefighters, to attend to the blaze. The operation required 25 fire trucks and they were joined by 21 fire trucks from the Ministry of Interior to combat the fire, he added.

“On arrival at the scene, the fire fighters faced difficulties in reaching the burning buildings as the street was very narrow. They had to lay several hoses out and connect them to reach the blaze,” he said.

The destroyed houses were constructed with wood, typically 15×5 metres over two floors and built side by side, making it easy for the fire to spread rapidly. The firefighting teams were able to bring the blaze under control by 3pm on Wednesday, although three neighbouring houses where badly damaged in the blaze, he said.

While tackling the blaze he injured his right hand due to burning timber falling on him, Col Yorn added.

The Deputy Director of the Cambodia Red Cross in Russei Keo, Buth Bovannaroth and his colleague Sou Sarath, visited villagers yesterday and distributed food supplies to 17 families affected by the fire.

The food donation comprised 25 kilogrammes of rice, a carton of noodles, 10 cans of fish, and six bottles of fish sauce, along with 50,000 Riel ($12.5), per family, he added.

According to the Ministry of Interior, last year, more than 50 people were killed and 97 injured in fire-related incidents across the country, compared to 2022, when there were 17 deaths and 24 injuries.

Last year there were 761 fire incidents, killing 54 people and injuring 97, which destroyed 579 houses and 57 stalls, it said.