3-5-2024 (PHNOM PENH) Cambodia’s defence ministry announced on Thursday (Apr 2) that an intense heatwave sweeping across Southeast Asia is believed to have played a role in an ammunition explosion that claimed the lives of 20 soldiers at an army base over the weekend. The blast, which resulted in the destruction of an entire truck of munitions and leveled buildings, also left several soldiers and at least one child injured in the rural province of Kampong Speu on Saturday.
According to the defence ministry, investigators suspect that the heatwave contributed to the detonation of the old weapons. “The incident of the ammunition explosion on Apr 27, 2024 was a technical issue because the weapons are old, faulty, and the hot weather,” stated the ministry in a release. However, the specific issue and the exact manner in which the heat might have led to the explosion were not elaborated upon.
The ministry also dismissed suggestions that the blast was caused by rebellious soldiers or an act of terrorism. Cambodia has a history of deadly accidents involving munitions due to the presence of large quantities of ammunition, mines, and unexploded ordnance remaining from years of civil conflict. Such incidents are exacerbated by lax safety standards that are often observed.
Like many parts of South and Southeast Asia, Cambodia has been grappling with scorching weather in recent weeks. Authorities issued warnings on Sunday that temperatures in some areas could reach 43 degrees Celsius. However, rain and cooler weather are anticipated in the coming days.
The heatwave has taken a toll on various regions across the region. In the Philippines, heat indices have reached 50 degrees Celsius, leading to the closure of schools and affecting over 3.6 million students. Thailand has recorded at least 30 deaths attributed to the soaring temperatures so far this year, with a corresponding surge in power consumption. In southern Vietnam’s Dong Nai province, hundreds of thousands of fish perished in a reservoir, with locals and media reports attributing the incident to the severe heatwave.
Following the explosion near Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, social media posts depicted a one-storey building engulfed in smoke and residents from a nearby village sharing images of shattered windows. Other photos showed injured individuals, including a young child in a diaper, receiving medical treatment in a hospital. An office building and adjacent barracks were destroyed, and 25 nearby homes sustained damage.
Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that the families of the deceased soldiers would receive approximately US$20,000 each, while injured soldiers would be provided with US$5,000 in compensation.
