The devastating fire at a casino hotel in northwest Cambodia appears to have been caused by a short circuit. The 17-storey Grand Diamond City Hotel and Casino in the city of Poipet was decorated with numerous lights for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, a spokesman for the province of Banteay Meanchey told the Khmer Times newspaper today.
“The complex electrical wiring systems were likely overloaded as a result,” he said.
Portal/Athit Perawongmetha
At least 25 people died in the fire last night and dozens were injured, some seriously. According to media reports, the victims are hotel staff and guests, including from neighboring Thailand.
Hundreds of emergency services battled the flames
Most of them died from smoke inhalation or injuries sustained when they jumped from the burning building, Poipet Governor Keat Hul said.
It took hundreds of emergency services several hours to bring the fire under control. The fire department and police tried to free the trapped people with cranes and helicopters.
The border hotel was particularly popular with Thais, as gambling is banned in their country. Poipet has about 100,000 inhabitants and is located 350 kilometers from the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh.