This year has seen a worrying uptick in fires, with 516 blazes reported in the first six months, a rise of 144 from the same period last year.

Tragically, 41 lives were lost, an increase of 28 fatalities, according to Neth Vantha, director of the National Police’s Department of Fire Prevention, Extinguishing and Rescue.

A recent fire safety exercise was staged at Aeon Mall Phnom Penh – also known as Aeon 1 – in Chamkarmon district to highlight the issue.

“The exercise was aimed at teaching Aeon Mall Phnom Penh staff how to prevent, fight, and evacuate in case of fires,” explained Vantha.

He further stressed the importance of immediate response, urging individuals to attempt to extinguish fires before reaching out to authorities.

Vantha praised the staff and specialists’ performance during the exercise. He expressed hope that such training will equip them to deal with a real-life fire incident.

“If a fire breaks out, the staff can extricate themselves from the situation. If the fire is small, they can handle it, preventing it from spreading,” he said.

He commended Aeon Mall of Japan branches for their collaboration with local law enforcement, especially in carrying out joint fire prevention exercises. Thus far, twelve exercises have taken place.

Chou Sovannara, general manager of Aeon Mall, saw the exercise as not only beneficial to staff awareness, but also crucial in complying with local fire prevention laws.

“In addition to the exercise boosting customer confidence in the mall’s safety, it allowed the staff to gain a more precise understanding of fire protection measures,” Sovannara said.

Yang Kim Eng, president of the People’s Centre for Development and Peace, emphasised the need for vigilance during the dry season when incidents like gas leaks and faulty wiring can quickly lead to fires.

He urged authorities to improve fire engine accessibility, especially in areas with narrow roads, and to consider modern fire engines for high-rise buildings.

“If we fail to address these complexities, tragedy will continue to befall Cambodia,” he warned.