Phnom Penh, June 23, 2019 –The Royal Government has decided to provide financial assistance for the deceased’s families and the injured of the seven-storey building collapse incident in Preah Sihanoukville, Preah Sihanouk province yesterday morning.
“On behalf of the Royal Government, I have decided to use the national budget to assist the deceased’s families with 40 million Riel (US$10,000) each. For the injured, they must benefit from free-of-charge medical treatment at public hospitals and receive each 5 million Riel (US$1,250),” said Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen in a Facebook message last night.
H.E. Bin Chhin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers was commissioned to hand over this budget to them, added the Premier.
Samdech Techo Prime Minister is now in Bangkok, Thailand to attend the 34th ASEAN Summit and other related meetings. Even though he is busy with meetings, he is closely following up the searching and rescue process.
Hundreds of competent forces have been deployed to the incident site to rescue the victims. According to the latest figures from the provincial referral hospital, as of this morning, at 6:30, 17 people, of them 4 women, have been reported dead, and 24 others injured (2 women), while the search for survivors continues actively until now.
Four people have been arrested for questioning and an investigation into the real cause of the collapse has been being conducted, said Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration in a press release.
By C. Nika
