The aftermath of the fire at the RG Footwear factory in Kandal province’s Ang Snuol district on March 19. Police
A massive blaze tore through three buildings at a Kandal province footwear factory on the night of March 18.
The fire razed the three structures, at the R.G Footwear Cambodia in Ang Snuol district’s Bek Chan commune, according to the Kandal Provincial Administration.
The destroyed buildings included warehouse space and manufacturing areas, it said, adding that no injuries were reported.
Provincial governor Kong Sophorn said on March 19 that a total of 300 truckloads of water were used to fight the conflagration, with 389 fire fighters deployed. The blaze was finally extinguished at 4am on March 19.
Sophorn was unable to estimate the cost of the damage, nor the cause of the fire, as the authorities were still completing their investigations.
“The suffering of the people is the suffering of the provincial leaders. We never stop caring for the people,” he said via social media, along with images of himself joining efforts to control the flames.
Kun Kim, first vice-president of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), also took part in the operation to extinguish the blaze.
Neth Vantha, director of the National Police’s Department of Fire Prevention, Extinguishing and Rescue, explained that the fire broke out after the workers had already left for the day.
He called on all workers and factory staff to exercise extreme caution at this particular time of year, noting that high temperatures and dry conditions made it very easy for fires to ignite and spread.
The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training recently instructed all factories and manufacturing facilities to pay close attention to fire prevention measures, as temperatures are forecast to reach up to 41 degrees Celsius in April and early May.
The ministry also warned that those who are negligent will be legally responsible for any damage or loss of life they cause.
Similar calls were made by Minister of Interior Sar Sokha, who highlighted the heightened risk of fire at this time of year.
He said fire fighters at both the national and sub-national levels must be prepared to take action as soon as it was required, in order to keep the public safe.
