Cambodia has attributed the deadly explosion at an ammunition warehouse in Kampong Speu province to a combination of factors, including the intense heatwave sweeping across southeast Asia. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, resulted in the tragic deaths of twenty soldiers.
Officials dismissed claims of insurgent involvement, stating that the explosion was instead caused by a mix of faulty munitions and exceptionally high temperatures, with forecasts indicating temperatures as high as 43C (109.4F) in the region.
The blast not only claimed lives but also destroyed an office building and nearby barracks, affecting 25 homes in the vicinity. Images from the scene depict a devastated warehouse, a military truck in ruins, and a child receiving medical attention for injuries.
Cambodia's defense ministry released a statement through AFP, attributing the explosion to technical issues arising from aging and defective weapons exacerbated by the hot weather.
Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed profound shock over the incident and announced government support for the affected families, including covering funeral expenses and providing compensation of $20,000 (£16,000) to the families of the deceased and $5,000 to the injured soldiers.
Cambodia, along with other parts of south and southeast Asia, has been grappling with extreme heat. Crisis24, a risk management company, warned that temperatures in the country could reach 43C (109.4F) by the weekend. The Philippines is experiencing a drought affecting half of the country, with temperatures soaring in many areas.
The heatwave has led Bangladesh to suspend classes, affecting 33 million students. Thailand reported 30 heatstroke-related deaths between January and mid-April, a higher toll than for the whole of 2023, according to the health ministry.
Unicef has raised concerns about the risk of heat-related illnesses and deaths for more than 243 million children across eastern Asia and the Pacific. A climate expert attributed the extreme heat to climate change and the influence of a strong El Niño weather pattern in the western Pacific.