66 Shop Houses Destroyed In Banteay Meanchey Fire

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

By Lor Chandara
THE CAMBODIA DAILY

Sixty-six shop houses were destroyed when a fire swept through a
section of the Khut Tasoat market area in Banteay Meanchey province's
O'Chrou district Sunday night, police said. Provincial officials
believe that the blaze was an accident likely started by an exploding
cooking gas cylinder, and that locals were awake and at a drinking
party when the fire started. Em Hon, deputy district police chief,
said the damage was considerable; he was unable to estimate the cost
of the loss. Banteay Meanchey Governor An Sum said cooking accidents
are common and that his authorities had frequently warned villagers
about the dangers of fire during the dry season. "What a pity," he
said. "Our people are poor and their houses are burned down like this."

.