The incident allegedly began due to faulty electrical wiring, the Royal Palace Ministry noted in an official statement issued this morning.
According to press reports, the fire broke out last Sunday after 10:30 p.m. local time and could only be extinguished shortly after midnight thanks to the use of 10 fire engines.
Police officers are currently investigating the case, said Siem Reap provincial police chief Teng Channath, adding that specialists are yet to determine the exact cause of the fire.
For his part, the governor of the province, Tea Seiha, deplored the incident “which destroyed a building of the royal residence, one of the most sacred places” in the area.
Meanwhile, Prince Sisowath Thomico, advisor to the late King’s father Norodom Sihanouk, explained that the small royal residence is a historic site, as it was there that the movement for French independence began to take shape in 1952.
According to historical records, the Royal Palace of Cambodia in Siem Reap Province was built in 1904 in Svay Dangkum Municipality opposite the popular Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm shrine.
jf/mpm