Double whammy

Construction halted after crane collapse that killed five in Poipet

CONSTRUCTION has been halted at a Poipet building project after a crane collapsed on a house on Wednesday killing five women and injuring four.

The women were sitting in a house near the construction site when the crane fell on them at around 3pm in Phsar Kandal commune.

The 20-year-old crane operator, Puth Livin, was taken in for questioning, said Poipet town acting governor Keo Dara Raksmey.

“We are building a case to send to the court. The four victims who sustained injuries are still hospitalised at Poipet Referral Hospital. Two of them sustained minor injuries while the other two are in serious condition,” Raksmey said.

The company in charge of building

“The Park City” gave $300 on Wednesday to each of the families of the victims who died.

Banteay Meanchey provincial governor Um Reatrey gave each family one million riel ($250) while the Banteay Meanchey provincial prosecutor, together with the Banteay Meanchey deputy police chief, gave each family 200,000 riel ($50).

The company will also pay $500 each to the two seriously injured women and $300 each to the women who sustained minor injuries, he said.

“We suspended construction while we investigate the incident. The Banteay Meanchey provincial prosecutor is leading the probe,” Raksmey said.

Banteay Meanchey provincial police chief Ath Khem said on Thursday that the injured women will recover. “We are finding a solution for this case. We want a good result for the victims,” he said.

Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia president Sok Kin said he is also investigating the case. He said the authorities should punish the owner of the company and not blame the workers.

“According to the law, the accident is the responsibility of the company even if it was caused by the staff. According to the law, it is the company that is careless,” he said.

Banteay Meanchey Adhoc provincial coordinator Sum Chankea said he wants the authorities to act responsibly and quickly with this case and not let it drag on.

“The court has not detained or punished anyone yet,” he said.

YOUSOS APDOULRASHIM Street vendors at Otres beach in Preah Sihanouk province’s Stung Hav district have been hit with Covid-19 and an unrelenting rainy season, robbing them of much-needed sales.