20 soldiers killed in munitions explosion at Cambodian army base | Global News

Security was tight around a military base in southwestern Cambodia on Sunday, a day after a huge explosion killed 20 soldiers, wounded others, and damaged nearby houses. Guards were seen trying to keep media away from the site in Kompong Speu province.

Hun Manet expressed his shock in a Facebook post on Saturday upon hearing the news of the blast in Chbar Mon district. The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear.

A villager living nearby, Chim Sothea, recounted the terrifying experience of hearing the blast while working on his house with construction workers. The explosion was so loud that it caused his house to shake and the roof tiles to fall off, narrowly missing falling inside the house.

Images from the scene showed several badly damaged buildings on the base, with roofs blown off, and soldiers receiving treatment in a hospital. Nearby houses also suffered damage with holes in their roofs.

Col. Youeng Sokhon reported that four buildings and several military vehicles were destroyed, with 25 villagers’ homes also damaged. The incident occurred in a large field with no civilian structures close by.

The explosion, which occurred at an arms depot, prompted villagers to seek shelter in panic. The military closed the road to the base, causing further distress among the residents.

The incident raised concerns about the storage and handling of munitions, with a history of similar incidents globally. Hun Manet offered condolences to the soldiers’ families and promised government support for funerals and compensation.

US Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy also extended condolences to the affected soldiers’ families. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation as the community mourns the loss of lives and assesses the extent of the damage.