Explosion at Military Base in Cambodia Kills 20 Soldiers and Damages Nearby Houses

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.

The explosion, which occurred in the province’s Chbar Mon district, left the community in shock. Villagers living nearby described the terrifying experience of hearing the blast and feeling their houses shake. One villager, Chim Sothea, recounted how the explosion caused his house to shake and tiles on his roof to fall off, luckily without causing any harm inside.

Images from the scene showed several badly damaged buildings on the base, with roofs blown off and soldiers receiving treatment in a hospital. Additionally, nearby houses were also affected, with holes in their roofs and damage to windows and doors.

Col. Youeng Sokhon, an army officer at the site, reported that four buildings were destroyed, three for storage and one work facility, along with several military vehicles. He also mentioned that 25 villagers’ homes were damaged in the blast.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, but speculation arose due to the high temperatures in the region. Cambodia has been experiencing an extended heatwave, with temperatures reaching 39 C (102 F) in the province on the day of the blast. While high temperatures alone cannot detonate ammunition, they can degrade the stability of explosives over time, increasing the risk of accidents.

In response to the tragedy, Hun Manet, a prominent figure in the Cambodian military, expressed his shock and offered condolences to the soldiers’ families. The government promised to cover funeral expenses and provide compensation to the victims.

This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of poorly stored or mishandled munitions, as highlighted in a 2014 report by the Small Arms Survey. The report emphasized the global problem of unplanned explosions at munitions sites, which can have devastating consequences for communities and the environment.

As investigations into the cause of the explosion continue, the community mourns the loss of the soldiers and hopes for a swift recovery for the wounded. US Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy also extended condolences to the affected families, emphasizing the tragic impact of the incident.