Cambodia casino fire leaves at least 19 dead, up to 30 missing near Thailand border

At least 19 people were killed and up to 30 were missing after a fire broke out at a casino-hotel complex just before midnight on Wednesday in the Cambodian town of Poipet bordering Thailand, officials said. Local authorities said hundreds of personnel from military, police and rescue teams had joined the rescue effort to extricate people feared trapped.

According to Thai authorities, at least 25 people were being treated in hospitals in Sa Kaeo province across the border. Representatives added that one Thai national had died in hospital and 70 per cent of those affected showed symptoms of smoke inhalation.

“(He) stayed behind to help a woman and the pregnant woman escape. I saw from a video clip, I think it was him. He hung on to a rope attached to a fire basket and it broke,” the relative of one of the victims said. “I’m sad and I think if help came faster, the rescue came faster, there wouldn’t be this much loss."

According to provincial police Chief Sithi Loh, the casino had about 400 people working at that time, and the fire's cause was unconfirmed. Casinos in Poipet are hugely popular with short-term Thai visitors, as gambling is illegal and unlicensed casinos operate underground in the neighbouring country.

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