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Cambodia News (Phnom Penh): At 10:45 am on January 31, 2023, a fire erupted in the New Place Restaurant on St. 138, group 41, village 2, Sangkat Phsar Depo 2, Khan Toul Kork, Phnom Penh.
One person was injured in the explosion and two others were killed one man and a woman; the identities of the victims have not yet been released, but it is believed that they were working at the site.




The restaurant belongs to Hok Try, a 31-year-old man, and the cause of the fire is believed to be sparks from welding at the restaurant*. The fire was put out by the firemen at 12:00 pm on January 31, 2023.




*Please note that while the cause of this fire has not yet been officially confirmed, this is the second fire reported on CEO this week that was allegedly caused by careless welding on the premises.
Yesterday: newsworthy/breaking-two-dead-sihanoukvi ... 53441.html

Other more graphic photos taken at this fire scene by Khmer news outlets have been placed on the darknet forum.

That's a pretty shiny fire truck. Nice to see they have those.

UPDATE: One more death RIP

Cambodia News, (Phnom Penh): At about 10:30 am on January 31. 2023, at the restaurant "New Place", along Street 138 in Phnom Penh, a fatal fire broke out, causing the death of one man at the scene and a woman who died on the way to hospital. Another man, who was severely burnt, has now died, bringing the fire death toll to three people.

The third victim who lost his life this morning is Seng Sam Ang, a 29-year-old male waiter. from Koh Kong, who was completely engulfed in flames, and died in hospital at 5:30 am on 1 February 2023.

The two victims who died yesterday morning have now been identified:
- Kem Kolin, male, 42 years old, coffee seller, born in Battambang province, died at the scene
- Them Phal, female, 28 years old, waitress, from Kampong Speu province, died while being taken to the hospital.



According to the authorities who issued the official report, the fire at the restaurant was started by the welders in the apartment above. As a result, a group of three welders have been arrested for causing the fire by negligence during the welding.
The police investigation into the fire is on-going.

Cambodia News, (Phnom Penh): In the morning of February 1, 2023, the joint authority of Tuol Kork district closed down the New Place Restaurant, after a massive fire that caused three deaths.

After this, the three welders who caused the fire were arrested and sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for legal action.



According to police information, at around 7 am on the day of the incident, the shop owner hired some workers from outside the establishment to come in and add a new metal table on the first floor to receive more guests. Then, at around 10:30 in the morning, the three workers were careless with their welding irons, making a lot of sparks that flew away in every direction,falling on the curtains, cushions and sofas on the floor below, thus igniting a fire which had already become intense and unstoppable by the time it was reported to staff.
Sadly, three people died in the fire, which appears to have been caused by simple negligence.

Missus saw burned guy (who later died) on the news.

RIP all of them.

I saw my share of BBQ’d people in a previous life.
No more for me.

Condolences to their families for such a tragic (and preventable) loss.

They don't look like the three brightest sparks in the welding kit.


Pro gear too. (And for sure they don't wear protective masks or goggles.)


But those three are not the only ones at fault - the restaurant owner has his part of responsibility, and also the lack of enforcement of fire regulations by the authorities, and the overall general slack attitude to safety standards. This could have happened anywhere.
Stupidity kills.