PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: An ammunition explosion at an army base in rural Kampong Speu province, Cambodia, which claimed the lives of 20 soldiers over the weekend, is believed to have been influenced by the scorching heatwave engulfing Southeast Asia, according to Cambodia’s defence ministry.
The explosion, which occurred on April 27, 2024, resulted in the destruction of an entire truckload of munitions and caused extensive damage to surrounding buildings, leaving several soldiers and at least one child injured.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the defence ministry attributed the incident to a combination of technical issues stemming from the age and faulty condition of the weapons, exacerbated by the extreme heatwave conditions prevailing in the region. However, specific details regarding the technical fault or the heat’s exact role in the explosion were not provided.
The ministry dismissed speculation regarding rebellious soldiers or terrorist activity as the cause of the blast, emphasizing the longstanding problem of deadly munitions accidents in Cambodia due to the abundance of old and unstable ordnance leftover from past conflicts.
Cambodia, like many countries in the region, has been grappling with soaring temperatures in recent weeks, with authorities warning of temperatures reaching up to 43 degrees Celsius in certain areas.
Following the explosion, images circulated on social media depicting the aftermath, including a destroyed building engulfed in smoke and injured civilians, including a young child, receiving medical treatment.
Prime Minister Hun Manet announced compensation for the families of the deceased soldiers and financial support for the injured, reflecting the government’s response to the tragic incident.
