Massive fire breaks out at Cambodian casino

A Cambodian casino, popular with gamblers from neighboring Thailand, was the scene of massive fire yesterday. According to the media outlet The Nation, a fire broke out late in the day at the Genting Crown Casino (another news agency called it the Golden Casino) in Poipet, resulting in several injuries. The blaze reportedly started due to an electrical problem in an elevator.

Reports are still coming in, but the fire reportedly swept through an 18-floor building that housed the casino beginning at 9:35 last night. It began near the fourth floor before expanding quickly to the 13th floor. According to the chief of police of the Nanteay Meanchey province, Major General Ath Khem, “No one died in the flames. However, six men got injured due to smoke inhalation when they got trapped in the [elevator].” The fire was brought under control by 2 AM this morning.

The six were identified as five Cambodians and one Chinese national. All were sent to a local hospital for treatment from the smoke inhalation. 10 fire trucks, 3 of which belonged to the casino, were used to put out the fire.

Locals reported on the blaze, as well. A Twitter user, Emil Perera, said, “Huge blaze breaks out in the block of flats in casino city Poipet in Cambodia. A fire in Cambodia has ripped through 18 floors of a high rise block of flats. A report from the fire service states some people have been injured in the blaze.”