An electrical fault caused a devastating casino fire that killed 26 people, Cambodian authorities said on Saturday, with many bodies found in stairwells or trapped in rooms after rescuers failed to reach them in time.
The fire broke out at the Grand Diamond City hotel-casino in Poipet, near the Thai border, at around 23:30 local time (04:30 GMT) on Wednesday evening. It raged through the multi-story casino-hotel complex, with dramatic images and rescuers telling of people being forced to jump from ledges and windowsills to escape the flames.
Kun Kim, vice chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee said “The accident was caused by an electrical short, 26 people died in the fire – among them 17 Thais, one Malaysian and one Nepalese, some people were burned, some died from lack of oxygen and some were burned and died at the exits, authorities took too long to put out the flames, blaming the complex layout of the hotel and casino as well as a lack of rescue equipment”.
Cambodian rescue teams called off their efforts on Friday evening as night fell, with Kun Kim confirming that teams had searched the entire complex.
Neung, a 42-year-old Thai casino worker who gave only his nickname, said his father died in a hotel room after helping two women escape. “But when he was helping them, he used up a lot of energy and the smoke was suffocating him, Now I just want his body”.
Thai officials said more than 50 people were hospitalized on Friday, 13 in critical condition. Many of the injured were treated by Thais who were helping Cambodian rescue teams with the search and rescue operation. Cambodian authorities said they were discussing whether charges would be brought against the hotel’s owners.
