Vietnamese citizen among Cambodia casino fire victims

VOV.VN - At least a Vietnamese citizen was confirmed to be among those killed in a fire breaking out at the 17-storey Grand Diamond City hotel-casino in Poipet, Cambodia, on December 29.

The blaze took place at 23:30 p.m. killing at least 19 people and leaving 73 severely injured, according to Cambodian authorities.

The police said the victims are mainly Cambodians, Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian, and Chinese. However, the identities or number of victims from each country have not yet been disclosed.

CBSnews quoted a volunteer from Thai rescue group Ruamkatanyu Foundation as sayings that the blaze started on the first floor before quickly spreading along carpets, leaping up through the multi-storey building.

Cambodia deployed 300 police officers, 11 fire trucks, and a number of helicopters to the scene.

The cause of the incident currently remains unknown.

According to CNN, Poipet, a transport hub situated between Cambodia’s Siem Reap and the Thai capital Bangkok, is known for its multiple casinos and is home to many Thais who work in the city’s gambling industry.

Almost all forms of gambling are illegal in Thailand, meaning that many Thais choose to cross the border in order to gamble legally.

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