Phnompenh Post
By Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Mech Dara
Publication date 15 March 2018 | 17:14 ICT
People transport a stretcher into Kampong Speu Provincial Hospital after a bomb exploded at a military base, killing an Australian and a Cambodian.
Two people – one of them an Australian national – were killed in an explosion on Thursday afternoon in Cambodia’s Kampong Speu province.
The Australian man and a Cambodian soldier were killed and another three, two Cambodians and another Australian, were injured in the blast at a shooting range within the base of a military “ACO” armoured vehicle unit in Phnom Sruoch district.
It is believed the casualties were shooting guns at targets when they noticed something on the ground, according to Kampong Speu Provincial Governor Vy Samnang. He said they went to pick up the object – a Russian-made bomb – which then exploded. Provincial Military Police Commander-in-Chief Chuo Sarun said the three Cambodians are soldiers, while Samnang said the two Australians were bomb experts.
Samnang said the tragedy occurred at around 2pm and that the Australian Embassy had been notified. The embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Kampong Speu Provincial Hospital confirmed it had admitted the victims from the explosion. O Vann Then, the director of the Health Department, said the three injured people had received “light injuries” to their hands.
“The body of the Cambodian soldier has already been taken out by family, while the Australian body is still at the hospital waiting to be taken by the Australian Embassy,” Vann Then said.
Updates to follow.
Additional reporting by Niem Chheng
Breaking: One Australian, one Cambodian killed in explosion at military base, National, Phnom Penh Post