By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer Original report from Phnom Penh
09 March 2010
More than 200 families lost their homes to a fire Monday night in Phnom Penh, with many forced to stay on the grounds of a pagoda nearby.
The fire began at 6:30 pm Monday evening and was extinguished by 10 pm, Phnom Penh officials said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but residents say it started in one house where a grandson had been fighting with his grandmother, knocking over a kerosene lantern.
No one was killed in the blaze, which brought in 26 fire trucks and destroyed 158 houses and eight units of monk housing from Wat Neak Kavorn, in Tuol Kork district.
Some of the homeless from 217 families were staying under trees and amid the stupas of Wat Neak Kavorn, calling for emergency food, shelter and medical care.
“I lost everything. It caused about more than $300 [in damage], including my house and my assets in the house,” Phat Yeour, 35, as he carried a woven mat through the pagoda. “I need the Cambodian government to help me get my life back.”
Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chutema said the muncipalitiy had not yet decided how to compensate the victims but had already provided some emergency provisions.
The fire began at 6:30 pm Monday evening and was extinguished by 10 pm, Phnom Penh officials said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but residents say it started in one house where a grandson had been fighting with his grandmother, knocking over a kerosene lantern.
No one was killed in the blaze, which brought in 26 fire trucks and destroyed 158 houses and eight units of monk housing from Wat Neak Kavorn, in Tuol Kork district.
Some of the homeless from 217 families were staying under trees and amid the stupas of Wat Neak Kavorn, calling for emergency food, shelter and medical care.
“I lost everything. It caused about more than $300 [in damage], including my house and my assets in the house,” Phat Yeour, 35, as he carried a woven mat through the pagoda. “I need the Cambodian government to help me get my life back.”
Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chutema said the muncipalitiy had not yet decided how to compensate the victims but had already provided some emergency provisions.
6 comments:
Where thr red cross of Bonary? Let goverment take care of the soldier or sakle them to private company, Bonary! Red cross is for the poor people!
Here we go again for CPP and Hun Sen. Instead of grabbing the land by force, Hun Sen men uses torch to burn down the people's house and claim the land by themselves. What is the low life of CPP?
It happened in the past and it happened now. See for yourself, but there're still people out there try to defend Hun Sen.
LITTLE SAIGON COMING SOON! It not first, it's second time this happened. More than 200 residents same as the previous one that took place in Cham community.
I have my friends live near by the blaze saying, there is a disputed between residents and the new developer is leading to that blaze.
Some said, the commune authority wanted to clear that area for new developments. (maybe they burnt down to make way for new developments).
peace out!
this is a good opportunity for the cambodian red cross to help the fire victims.
The cause of the recent conflagration in the poverty-stricken area has demonstrated the egregious ambition of these robber barons' callous greed that will do anything to benefit their personal interests; they'll obliterate everything in their path.
Your days are numbered!
May God condemn your complicity!
War is peace
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