Cambodia blames deadly ammunition warehouse explosion for heatwave

• A deadly ammunition warehouse explosion in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia, resulted in the deaths of twenty soldiers.
• Officials attribute the blast to faulty munitions and extremely hot weather, not rebellious soldiers.
• An office building and nearby barracks were destroyed, affecting 25 homes.

Cambodia has attributed a deadly ammunition warehouse explosion to factors including the heatwave gripping southeast Asia. The incident occurred in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia, resulting in the deaths of twenty soldiers on Saturday. Officials rejected claims attributing the blast to rebellious soldiers, asserting instead that it was caused by a combination of faulty munitions and extremely hot weather.

Forecasters predict temperatures of up to 43C (109.4F) for the country. Reports indicate that an office building and nearby barracks were destroyed, affecting 25 nearby homes. Images of the incident depict a destroyed warehouse, a damaged military truck, and a child with gashes being treated by medics. Unverified social media videos capture multiple explosions heard during the event.

"The incident of the ammunition explosion on April 27, 2024... was a technical issue because the weapons are old, faulty, and the hot weather," Cambodia's defense ministry said in a statement, according to the news.

Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed being "deeply shocked" by the blast. He announced that authorities would cover funeral expenses and provide compensation of $20,000 (£16,000) to the families of those killed. Injured soldiers will receive $5,000, he added.

Crisis24, a risk management company, informed the Khmer Times that like large parts of south and southeast Asia, Cambodia has been grappling with hot weather in recent weeks. The company stated that temperatures in the country could still reach 43C (109.4F) by the weekend. In the Philippines, half of the country is experiencing a drought, with temperatures reaching highs in several areas. The heat has compelled Bangladesh to suspend classes, affecting 33 million students.

The health ministry in Thailand reported that 30 people died of heatstroke between January and 17 April this year, compared with 37 in the whole of 2023. Unicef issued a warning that more than 243 million children across eastern Asia and the Pacific are at risk of heat-related illnesses and death. One climate expert attributed the excessive heat to climate change and the impact of a powerful El Niño weather system in the western Pacific.

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