The Ministry of Labour is investigating the death of a 19-year-old female garment worker who fainted at a factory in Prey Veng on Thursday.

Vorn Srey Neang died at Prey Veng provincial hospital after falling ill while working a shift at R Sambath Trading factory in Svay Antor district.

More than a dozen of her colleagues fainted after hearing the news.

“She got a headache and vomited and could not breathe well,” Pum Kan, Svay Antor district police chief, said.“Labour officials checked the factory and saw no bad environment or smell or anything.”

Colleague Sao Phal, 25, said Srey Neang reported feeling unwell at 8:30am. She was transferred from the factory health centre to Svay Antor district hospital and then onto the provincial centre, where she died at 4pm.

“We can’t say anything now, but she’s so young to die,” Sao Phal said.

Cheav Bunrith, spokesman for the National Social Security Fund at the Ministry of Labour, said provincial officials would investigate the case.