Water festival in Phanom Penh kills 347

Cambodia's prime minister led an emotional memorial ceremony Thursday at the site of a bridge stampede in the capital that killed almost 350 people in the worst national tragedy for decades.

Hun Sen, dressed in black, wiped away a tear and burnt incense at a small altar erected at the foot of the narrow bridge, now cleared of the shoes, clothing and plastic bottles that were a grim reminder of Monday's disaster.

Officials said throngs of revellers celebrating the nation's annual water festival apparently panicked as rumours rippled through the crowds that the bridge to an island in Phnom Penh was about to give way.

The death toll was revised down to 347 from 456 because some victims had been mistakenly included twice, the social affairs ministry said.

Of those who perished, 221 were women. Hospitals reported 395 people were injured.

At the memorial ceremony, Hun Sen's wife, Bun Rany, stood at her husband's side and openly cried as a military band played a sombre tune. Other government officials, including Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and National Assembly President Heng Samrin, also paid their respects.

The women wore white shirts, a colour of mourning in Cambodia.

Flags were flying at half-mast at government buildings across the capital, while many schools were closed and dozens of uniformed school children carrying flowers attended the brief early morning service.

Afterwards, streams of people, including foreigners, lined up to lay out fruit, rice and water -- sustenance for the spirits of the dead.

King Sihamoni did not attend the event, but his father, Norodom Sihanouk, the former monarch who is still highly revered by Cambodians, sent out a public letter of condolence from Beijing, where he is receiving medical treatment.

The message, which appeared in full on the front page of a local newspaper, said the event had filled him and his wife "with very profound sadness."

Initial findings from a probe into the stampede released Wednesday suggested a combination of factors was to blame.

"The deaths happened because the bridge was overcrowded and there was panic that the bridge was collapsing because it is hung by cables and it was swaying," said Prum Sokha, who heads a panel investigating the tragedy.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Water festival
• Bridge stampede
• Hun Sen
• Cambodia
• Phanom Penh

[tatatamaya54000]

Fuck that country

[hey3184]

THIS IS HELL LIKE

[Naren789]

@SiemReapII you right, i hate him so much. he kill so much people. i fuck hate him and i really want my people to be save and have a better furture...

[SiemReapII]

You don't have to cry showing that you care about Cambodian people and get popularity from them,Mr the prime minister .It was your city government false of not provide enough safety to Cambodian citizen.

[MJxSHAMONE]

Thanks for uploading!