Cambodia News, (Battambang Province): According to a report by the local authorities, a train carrying rice was allegedly so overloaded that it caught fire, at 11:30 a.m. on December 25, 2022, while traveling on a railway to the point of Kien Kes 1 village, Thmor Koul district in Battambang province.

According to the report of the Acting Inspector of Thmor Koul District, Mr. Pang Phang, the train which belongs to the ROYAL RAILWAY company was transporting rice from a rice mill in Ta Men commune, Thmor Koul district to Phnom Penh.

The locomotive driver, Mr. Chhorn Phanny, 31 years old, was quoted by the authorities as saying that 12 wagons were carrying 720 tons of rice, which exceeded the engine force. Due to the excess weight, the engine was pulling too hard and the wheels of the train were pushed down against the rails, creating sparks, which set the engine on fire.

Acting Inspector Pang Phang confirmed that professional officers and fire trucks had intervened to help put out the fire. According to the inspection,The locomotive was only damaged about 50%, and there was no danger to people, or of the fire spreading to the wagons holding the rice.