As of Khmer people are welcoming the up coming Khmer New Year which will come on 13th, April, 2008, unfortunately a fire occurred in Tropaing Chhouk village, Tek Thla commune Reussey Keo district in Phnom Penh. At least 450 houses were extremely destroyed in a fire on 11 April, 2008. The fire which happened from 5.00 am has killed nobody, but some people got injured and leaving their property empty. The cause of the fire is not clear yet.

Fire engines, police authority, ambulances and other rescue teams are on stationed at the scenes to maintain security, rescue people and to control situation in case of chaos or mob. Affected people are struggling to pull their property out of their houses while some families collected nothing from their house because the fire is so immense.

Caritas Cambodia immediately went to the scenes and finds out hug destruction and ruins. . There is no clear report on either the extent of the damaged or the number of the destroyed houses from the authority. The number of injured people is on further investigation. The destroyed houses are wooden houses, located in a slump. Responding to Caritas Cambodia, a family said the location is needed to be removed for city beautification.

Until 11.30 o’clock on the same day, the houses are still on fire and burst into flame. The traffic is so crowded and people can see the fire and flames from the burning houses even from a far distance.
Caritas Cambodia is planning to call for a joint group discussion among NGOs to discuss about possibility of providing immediate emergency relief to the affected families and to find ways in tackling with the problem.