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CatastropheCambodia

Cambodia: 20 soldiers killed in army base blast

April 27, 2024

An ammunition explosion has claimed the lives of 20 soldiers and destroyed mutliple buildings at a Cambodian military base, according to Prime Minister Hun Manet.

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A damaged military truck is pictured following an explosion at an army base in Kampong Speu province
Cambodia's military said that an entire truck of munitions had explodedImage: AFP/Getty Images

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet on Saturday said 20 soldiers were killed in an ammunition blast at a military base in Kampong Speu province, west of the capital Phnom Penh.

"I am deeply shocked to receive the news of the ammunition explosion incident," Hun Manet said in a statement on Facebook and expressed his "deepest condolences" to the families of those killed.

Cambodia's military said a "warehouse ammunition explosion" had destroyed a truck fully loaded with weaponry. Four buildings have been destroyed.

The exact cause of the blast remains unclear.

Pictures circulating on social media showed damaged buildings, including houses with holes in their roofs, and smoke still rising.

Smoke billows from the warehouse following an explosion at an army base in Kampong Speu province
The cause of the explosion at the army base in Kampong Speu province was not immediately knownImage: AFP/Getty Images

Hun Manet said he had ordered defense chiefs to urgently arrange funerals for the soldiers who died.

He also said that the families of those killed would receive roughly $20,000 each (€18,687), while injured soldiers would get $5,000.

kb/dj (AP/AFP)