At least eight people have died and over 130 were injured late Wednesday night in a fire at a Cambodian casino in the border town of Poipet, about 200 metres from the Thai border in Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo Province.
Thanatip Kokmanee, the deputy governor of Sa Kaeo, told Thai PBS that 82 injured, including 44 Thais, 30 Cambodians and 8 Indonesians, were taken to hospitals in Aranyaprathet, one of whom has died.
In Poipet, Cambodian officials said that seven people were killed, 53 were injured and eight are still missing.
Quoting Cambodian news reports, Atlas News reported that most of the dead are Thai nationals, many of whom died from smoke inhalation and burns. 30 others were injured.
The fire is believed to have started after cooking gas cylinders in the kitchen, which is on the ground floor of the building, exploded. Most of the employees there were Thais, who are believed to have become trapped.
Sa Kaeo Governor Prinya Pothisat has set up a coordinating centre near the Khlong Luek border checkpoint, to assist relatives of fire victims.
A hotline, 081-172-2603, has also been set up for relatives to seek for information about the victims.
Poipet is a favourite destination for Thai gamblers, as casino gambling is illegal in Thailand.
