PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, June 23 (NNN-AKP) — The death toll in the collapse of a seven-story building, which was under-construction, in south-western Cambodia’s Preah Sihanouk province, has risen to 17, according to a victims’ name list, released by the rescue team today (Sunday).
The name list said that 17 people were found dead under the pile of debris and 24 others were injured.
In a Facebook post late on Saturday, Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and the injured, and announced that the government would donate 10,000 U.S. dollars to each family of the dead, and 1,250 U.S. dollars to each injured person.
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Governor, Yun Min, said that, it was believed that between 40 and 50 construction workers were sleeping in the building when it collapsed.
Seng Loth, a spokesman for the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction, said, the building was constructed without permission.
“It was an unlicensed project, and the provincial authorities had warned the developer twice, but they ignored the warnings,” he said.
The accident happened early on Saturday, in commune 4, in Sihanoukville, the Preah Sihanouk Province’s Administration said, in a statement.– NNN-AKP
