The death toll stands at 26 after a December fire at a casino on the Cambodia-Thailand border. More than 60 others were injured.
The blaze started around midnight December 28 at the Grand Diamond City Casino and Hotel in Poipet. It then spread throughout the 12-story property. According to CBC News, videos show people tumbling from a rooftop and perching on window ledges trying to escape the fire.
“The fire was massive and was inside the casino, so it was difficult for our water cannons to reach it,” said a firefighter in a video posted by the Banteay Meanchay Province fire department.
Many of the victims, including customers and staff, were said to hail from Thailand, where gambling is still illegal. The border town of Poipet has profited from its proximity to the border, as casinos in the town attract many Thai gamblers. The Grand Diamond City Casino, close to the border checkpoint, was especially popular with customers from the Thai capital of Bangkok.
According to Barron’s magazine, the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit, and was compounded by a lack of rescue equipment. After it was extinguished, Thai and Cambodian rescue teams worked together to search the premises.
