Dramatic moment petrol station explodes in Cambodia, injuring locals and tourists
- 5 years ago
This is the terrifying moment an LPG gas station exploded injuring locals and tourists in Cambodia yesterday (August 14).
A tanker truck containing 2,000 litres of the liquid fuel was transferring the gas to a storage tank behind the building when it suddenly ignited in Siem Reap province.
Dash cam footage from a car shows how the gas station suddenly burst into flames - hitting passing motorcycle riders who were knocked to the ground from the force of the explosion.
The driver said: ''I'm praying for those who were hurt. It's very lucky nobody was killed because it was a big explosion of LPG gas.
''It was very sad to witness it with my own eyes and see the people suffering after.''
Several pedestrians and staff at the shop were also hurt. It took more than one hour for firefighters to extinguish the blaze successfully.
Thirteen locals and two female tourists who were riding motorcycles at the time were injured from the blast in the bustling city, popular for travellers and backpackers.
Six of those were seriously injured and taken to the Siem Reap Referral Hospital.
Brigadier General Phing Sambath, deputy police chief of Siem Reap province, said: "A total of 13 people, including police officers, guards, and female westerners, were wounded in the blast.
''The two foreigners, whose nationalities are not identified, had their skins burned while passing through the gas station when the tank exploded.''
The police are gathering evidence and searching for the owner of the gas station who was not at the shop when officers arrived to begin the investigation.
''The cause of the explosion is unknown yet. The investigation is underway as we are gathering CCTV footage and questioning some witnesses,'' the deputy chief added.
A tanker truck containing 2,000 litres of the liquid fuel was transferring the gas to a storage tank behind the building when it suddenly ignited in Siem Reap province.
Dash cam footage from a car shows how the gas station suddenly burst into flames - hitting passing motorcycle riders who were knocked to the ground from the force of the explosion.
The driver said: ''I'm praying for those who were hurt. It's very lucky nobody was killed because it was a big explosion of LPG gas.
''It was very sad to witness it with my own eyes and see the people suffering after.''
Several pedestrians and staff at the shop were also hurt. It took more than one hour for firefighters to extinguish the blaze successfully.
Thirteen locals and two female tourists who were riding motorcycles at the time were injured from the blast in the bustling city, popular for travellers and backpackers.
Six of those were seriously injured and taken to the Siem Reap Referral Hospital.
Brigadier General Phing Sambath, deputy police chief of Siem Reap province, said: "A total of 13 people, including police officers, guards, and female westerners, were wounded in the blast.
''The two foreigners, whose nationalities are not identified, had their skins burned while passing through the gas station when the tank exploded.''
The police are gathering evidence and searching for the owner of the gas station who was not at the shop when officers arrived to begin the investigation.
''The cause of the explosion is unknown yet. The investigation is underway as we are gathering CCTV footage and questioning some witnesses,'' the deputy chief added.