3 dead after oil tanker blaze engulfs houses in SW Cambodia

8/5/2025 16:08

Three people died after their houses were engulfed in an inferno from an oil tanker in southwest Cambodia's Preah Sihanouk province, according to the National Police's Department of Fire Prevention, Extinguishing, and Rescue on Thursday.



The incident happened Wednesday midnight in Prey Nop district's Prek Pros village when the oil tanker driver transferred gasoline from the truck into small containers, the department said, adding that the gasoline fumes were ignited by a nearby grill fire.



"Three people were pronounced dead in the fire," it said, adding that the victims were aged 18, 15, and 13 years old.



Negligence was blamed for the tragic incident that also completely destroyed the tanker's cab, two houses, and five motorcycles, the department said.



The Southeast Asian country recorded a total of 823 fire incidents in 2024, killing 20 people and injuring 59 others, according to the National Committee for Disaster Management.