A fire blaze burning down a monks' housing in Wat Neakawoan Pagoda (Photo: Uy Sophea, RFA)09 March 2010
By Om Oddom
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer
Residents living near Wat Neakawoan Pagoda, located in Boeung Kak 2 commune, Tuol Kok district, Phnom Penh city, were victimized by a major blaze that destroyed their homes and belongings. The blaze also destroyed a number of housings for monks in Wat Neakawoan Pagoda as well.
RFA reporter Om Oddom who traveled to the blaze location last night (on Monday 08 March) has filed a detailed report on the incident below:
Om Oddom: A blaze took place in Boeung Kak 2 commune, Tuol Kok district, Phnom Penh city. According to residents who live in the blaze area, the fire started at about 6PM.
Based on preliminary estimates by group leaders in Boeung Kak 2 commune, more than 200 homes are currently destroyed by the fire which leaped from one house to another. The majority of homes that were burnt were wooden homes and the majority of the residents are poor people scavenging recycled materials or selling boiled corns or salted clams.
According to one of the residents living in the house where the fire started, the fire may have started from carelessness in the kitchen. However, he did not dare make any presumption. The fire also burnt down 10 monks’ housings in Wat Neakawoan Pagoda.
I did not meet with the authority because they were busy putting out the fire. Right now, residents whose houses were burnt down, some are crying, some are trying to salvage their belongings. Some can only stand and watch their houses burnt down to the ground because they were not able to take anything out. In some of the houses, all that remain were the concrete poles.
Residents and observers of the situation indicated that, based on a preliminary assessment, there was no life lost accounted for yet.
RFA reporter Om Oddom who traveled to the blaze location last night (on Monday 08 March) has filed a detailed report on the incident below:
Om Oddom: A blaze took place in Boeung Kak 2 commune, Tuol Kok district, Phnom Penh city. According to residents who live in the blaze area, the fire started at about 6PM.
Based on preliminary estimates by group leaders in Boeung Kak 2 commune, more than 200 homes are currently destroyed by the fire which leaped from one house to another. The majority of homes that were burnt were wooden homes and the majority of the residents are poor people scavenging recycled materials or selling boiled corns or salted clams.
According to one of the residents living in the house where the fire started, the fire may have started from carelessness in the kitchen. However, he did not dare make any presumption. The fire also burnt down 10 monks’ housings in Wat Neakawoan Pagoda.
I did not meet with the authority because they were busy putting out the fire. Right now, residents whose houses were burnt down, some are crying, some are trying to salvage their belongings. Some can only stand and watch their houses burnt down to the ground because they were not able to take anything out. In some of the houses, all that remain were the concrete poles.
Residents and observers of the situation indicated that, based on a preliminary assessment, there was no life lost accounted for yet.
7 comments:
again, a wake up call to build homes properly and have trained electricians install proper electrical wiring, etc... people should be educated to be mindful of fire in a crowded city like phnom penh.
Are the CPP clowns burned down the place--including the Buddhist temple this time--again to make way for new developments?
War is peace
yep, now is easy to evict them from the city.
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!
LITTLE SAIGON COMING SOON!
they should place a khmer botanical garden where boeng kak lake is now. you know, in a city like phnom penh, any stagnant body of water harvest a breeding ground for mosqitos, thus malaria. have we ever thought about that? it's not like phnom penh hasn't been surround by lots water already, you know! please help to clean up cambodia and help to make phnom penh city and cambodia beautiful for all to enjoy. god bless cambodia.
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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