Not only did the explosion result in the deaths of at least twenty soldiers, but it also destroyed four buildings, damaged many military vehicles, and destroyed the homes of twenty-five residents.
Twenty troops have died and numerous more have been injured in an incident involving ammunition at a base in southwest Cambodia, according to Prime Minister Hun Manet.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Hun Manet expressed his “deep shock” at learning of the explosion at the base in the province of Kampong Speu.
What caused it was not immediately apparent.
Photos from the site showed soldiers receiving medical attention in a hospital alongside a number of severely damaged houses that were still smoldering, at least one of which had had its roof blasted off.
Additional images displayed homes with roof holes.
Col. Youeng Sokhon, an army officer at the scene, reported on social media that several military vehicles were damaged and that four buildings—three for storage and one for work—were demolished.
He said there was also damage to the homes of twenty-five villagers.
elevated temps
Like many other nations in the area, Cambodia has been experiencing a protracted heat wave; on Saturday, the province where the explosion occurred had a high of 39 degrees Celsius (102 F).
High temperatures can cause explosives to lose their stability over time, increasing the possibility that a single tiny explosion could start a fire and cause a chain reaction, even if they ordinarily cannot explode ammunition.
A local resident was described by the English-language news website Kiripost as stating that a large explosion happened at approximately 2:30 pm (0730 GMT) and that there were lesser explosions for an additional hour after that.
Homes up to one kilometer (a half-mile) away had minor damage, according to Pheng Kimneang, who was quoted as stating that the windows of a nearby factory were smashed.
Images of the base depict it in a wide field, seemingly devoid of any nearby civilian buildings.
Hun Manet sent his sympathies to the families of the fallen troops and pledged that the government will cover the cost of their funerals and compensate the injured as well as the dead.
After completing his studies at the US Military Academy at West Point, he led the army before being chosen as prime minister last year. His father, Hun Sen, led Cambodia for 38 years before he resigned.
SOURCE: TRTWORLD
