A family of four were killed in a Phnom Penh house fire early Friday morning, June 13. The fire broke out in the family home, in Por Senchey district’s Chrey Kaong village, of Chaom Chao II commune.
According to the Fire Prevention and Rescue Office of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, the house was used an air conditioner repair shop. The authorities determined that the fire was cause by an electrical malfunction.
“The location was an air conditioning repair business and the front entrance was blocked with equipment, which made it difficult for the victims to escape in time,” said Prom Yorn, director of the Phnom Penh Fire Prevention and Rescue Office.
The victims were named as Heng Sovankhoy, 38, his wife But Puth, 32, and their two daughters, Khoeung Khoy Botrey,10, and Khoeung Khoy Sovanmey, just nine months old.
Yorn could not recall any other fatal fires in the capital this year.
He explained that he personally led a team to extinguish the blaze, noting that they were able to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring houses.
The authorities deployed 11 appliances —5 vehicles from the Phnom Penh Fire Department, which used four truckloads of water, totalling approximately 22 cubic metres, and 6 vehicles from Military Unit No. 70, which used one truckload, equivalent to 8 cubic metres.
The fire was brought under control by 6.05am.
The brick home measured 20 by 5 metres and was completely gutted by the blaze.
Yorn called on the public, especially business owners, to avoid blocking entrances, and to ensure that an emergency exit is available.
