Entertainment in Cambodia ordered to close on Thursday to mourn dead from stampede tragedy

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian Ministry of Tourism has ordered all entertainment businesses to close on Thursday to mourn the dead from Monday's stampede tragedy, an official said on Wednesday.

"To join mourning the dead, the Ministry of Tourism instructs the owners of entertainment businesses such as karaokes, night clubs, discotheques, beer gardens, and restaurants entertained with concerts to close their businesses for one day on Nov. 25 from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m.," said a directive signed by So Mara, secretary of state for the ministry.

So Mara told Xinhua on Wednesday that the ban is following the order from the government to all ministries and institutions and private enterprises to take Nov. 25 as the national day of mourning the death in the stampede tragedy, and flying national flags with half-mast.

"As the whole nation takes Nov. 25 to mourn, entertainment is not allowed on that day in Cambodia," he said. "On Thursday, if we find any entertainment businesses violate this directive, we will revoke their operating license."

The stampede tragedy happened at around 9:30 p.m. on Monday at Diamond Island's north bridge during the last day of the Water Festival, leaving at least 378 people killed and 755 others injured.

Lieutenant General Sok Phal, deputy chief of the National Police and vice-president of the special committee for the accident investigation, told Xinhua on Wednesday that the death was caused by accident as people were not aware that the bridge is a suspension bridge, so when the bridge swung and some shouted that the bridge was collapsing, it spurred turmoil among the crowds.

He said the dead people were due to suffocation and stampede, no any sign of electrocution or terrorism.

Cambodia's Water Festival from Nov. 20 to 22 is the largest annual festival in the Southeast Asian nation, around 3 million Cambodians, especially those from rural areas converged to the city to enjoy the regatta.