Guwahati: The Phnom Penh Post reported that on December 28 a fire broke out at the Grand Diamond City casino in Poipet, Banteay Meanchey province, leaving at least 10 people dead and 30 more hurt.
According to an article in The Phnom Penh Post, Nhem Phoeng, chief of administration at the Poipet town hall, reported that as of the morning of December 29, the flames were still out of control.
According to Phoeng, the Grand Diamond City casino is host to more than 400 people, the bulk of them are Thai.
According to Phoeng, the majority of the fatalities were Thai and Cambodian workers.
He further added that the injured individuals had been sent to a hospital for care.
“As of 9:10am, more than 10 people died, and over 30 of the injured were sent to hospital in Aranyaprathet district of Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province,” The Phnom Penh Post quoted Nhem Phoeng as saying.
According to The Phnom Penh Post, the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) vice president Kun Kim announced that commandos and helicopters had been dispatched to the area to rescue people trapped inside the casino, which is close to the Poipet International Border Checkpoint. The cause of the fire was being investigated by the authorities.