In the Capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, a stampede occurred during a festival killing 339 people, officials said on Monday. In Phnom Penh post, cited information from Prime Minister Hun Sen in a televised address, which said another 329 people were injured in the crush.
There are varying reports that from 2 -4 million people were attending the Water Festival when the stampede happened. It began about 10 p.m. The municipal police chief said, that it likely occurred due to a suspension bridge which was packed with people, as it began to sway, creating panic.
Police trying to get the people to move on, fired water cannons onto the bridge “That just caused complete and utter panic,” Bader said. A number of people were said to had lost consciousness and fell into the water. It has been said by some witnesses that people may have been electrocuted. The government have denied this. An unnamed doctor said the main cause of death was suffocation and electrocution. Police were among the people killed.
The prime minister has ordered an inquiry into the incident, and has declared Thursday a day of mourning.
Video of the scene showed shocking vision of the crush and the aftermath, dozens of people could be seen laying on hospital floors attached to intravenous lines.Each November the three-day festival, is held near the palace to honor a victory by Cambodian naval forces during the 12th-century reign of King Jayvarman VII.
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