At least seven people have been killed and dozens injured in a fire at a casino and hotel in western Cambodia.
The fire at the Grand Diamond City Casino in Poipet, started around midnight on Wednesday, the National Police Commissioner said.
Just after 4am UK time (11am local time), police said the fire had been extinguished.
Parinya Phothisat, governor of Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, said one of the dead was a Thai citizen and 32 Thais are being treated in hospital.
53 people were injured and 8 people were missing.
Footage on social media showed guests hanging from windows or trapped inside the building, and city governor Keat Hol said firefighters and other first responders were trying to rescue everyone. People.
John Sagun could see the flames from his workplace. Photo: John Sagun
John Sagun works at the Holiday Palace Hotel, behind the Grand Diamond City Casino.
He told Sky News he initially thought his hotel was on fire but was told by a colleague it was the Grand Diamond instead.
He said the fire appeared to have started in the casino’s kitchen area.
“Around 2-3 am, my boss told me to evacuate the staff and then I left the office to see what happened.
“When I was outside, I was shocked to see it on fire.”
Mr. Sagun said that Grand Diamond has a sky bar called G360 on the 17th floor where about 40 or 50 people are trapped.
He also said that at least two people were killed after trying to jump to safety from a burning building.
Photo: Political Commissar of National Police, Cambodia
Cambodian authorities have requested help from Thailand, according to Thai PBS, which said five fire engines and 10 rescue vehicles were sent across the border.
Poipet is a city in Banteay Meanchey province in western Cambodia, opposite Thailand’s more affluent Aranyaprathet, and the two are hubs for cross-border trade and tourism.
