A violent fire broke out in a hotel casino in Cambodia, killing at least 10 people. Several people, cornered by the flames, jumped into the void.
A violent fire broke out in a hotel casino in Cambodia on Wednesday night, killing at least ten people, injuring around 30 and leaving many missing. The Grand Diamond City Hotel & Casino is located in Poipet near the border with Thailand.
The particularly virulent catastrophe has trapped many hotel residents. Videos show people jumping into space to escape the flames. Others sit on the edges of the ledges. The hotel complex has many floors and two buildings are connected by a pedestrian bridge, Euronews reports.
This morning we were able to discover a charred and smoking carcass with the fire not fully under control. According to the police, 360 rescue workers are on duty. Extinguishing agents were also sent from the Thai side.
The fire would have started on the first floor and then quickly spread through the carpets and rugs of the corridors and reached the floors, according to local observers.
The cause of fire is not discovered yet. The casino employed about 400 people. Local media reported that there were foreigners in the casino at the time of the fire, but their nationality is not yet known.
Poipet is a popular holiday destination for visitors from Thailand where most forms of gambling are illegal. These casino hotels are particularly popular.