At least 27 people have died and dozens have been injured in a fire at a casino in the town of Poipet, in western Cambodia, after a gas tank exploded near the complex.

The incident, in which at least ten people have died and most of whom were from Thailand, took place at the Grand Diamond City Casino and Hotel in Poipet, located on Cambodia’s border with Thailand, Rasmei News has reported.

Also, at least more than 100 people have been injured as a result of burns from the flames, smoke inhalation, as well as from jumping into the street from several stories high.

“According to the report of the Provincial Disaster Management Committee, so far 27 people have died and more than 100 have been injured, and the joint Cambodian-Thai authorities are still searching for more,” Cambodian authorities detailed in a statement.

Massive fire at the Grand Diamond City Hotel & Casino in Poipet, Cambodia, with an unclear number of people hurt. #Breaking #BreakingNews #Cambodia #Poipet pic.twitter.com/GsASKnTLFo

— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) December 29, 2022

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Cambodia, Samdech Krala Hom Sar, as well as the Deputy Prime Minister Ke Kim Yam, arrived at the scene, where they took command of the rescue operation for the fire.

At around 5.00 a.m. (local time) a gas tank explosion took place near the casino, seriously damaging the building, injuring pedestrians passing by, as well as starting a fire that at the time of writing has not been extinguished.

According to witnesses, as a result of the explosion, some people jumped from the casino building, after which two foreign nationals died.

Several employees and customers also reportedly had difficulty getting to safety, as the fire spread rapidly from the lower floors upwards, blocking the exit.

The violence with which the flames spread made it difficult to evacuate and extinguish the fire, in which emergency teams and firefighters from neighboring Thailand took part. 

Meanwhile, another group of people climbed onto the roof of the building and were evacuated with the help of emergency services helicopters.

-Thailand News (TN)