Ammunition explosion in military base kills 20 soldiers in Cambodia

KAMPONG SPEU: Tragedy struck a military installation in Cambodia as twenty soldiers lost their lives in a devastating explosion of ammunition, according to local media sources.

The explosion occurred in the southern Kampong Speu province on Saturday. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed grief and conveyed condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers.

Strong tornado hits China’s Guangzhou, killing 5, injuring 33

Details surrounding the cause of the explosion remain unclear, prompting speculation and concern. However, Prime Minister Manet has directed the government to provide compensation to the families of the deceased soldiers and to support the injured.

Social media footage capturing the aftermath of the incident depicts multiple explosions, a scene of destruction with a warehouse reduced to rubble, a military truck in ruins, and civilians receiving medical attention for injuries sustained.

Reports from Cambodia’s army describe the event as a catastrophic “warehouse ammunition explosion,” resulting in the destruction of a fully loaded truck carrying weaponry. The impact extended beyond the military compound, with an office building and nearby barracks also suffering damage, affecting 25 homes in the vicinity, as per the Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Myanmar: Multi-ethnic civil war is tearing the country apart

Prime Minister Manet has pledged immediate arrangements for the funeral ceremonies of the fallen soldiers, along with financial support for their families. Each family of the deceased will receive $20,000 (£16,000), while injured soldiers will be provided with $5,000.

This grim incident echoes a similar tragedy in 2005 when five Cambodians lost their lives and three others were injured in an explosion at a military arms depot near Battambang.