1 killed, 3 injured as centuries-old tree collapses in Cambodia’s Angkor complex

PHNOM PENH, July 23 (Xinhua) — A rainstorm caused the fall of a centuries-old tree in the famed Angkor Archaeological Park in northwest Cambodia’s Siem Reap province on Tuesday, leaving one person dead and three others injured, said a provincial spokesperson.
The incident occurred in front of Tonle Oum Gate or South Gate of Angkor Thom at 5:30 p.m. local time when a large and tall tree fell in a strong wind.
“The tree accidentally collapsed on a tuk-tuk during a rain with strong wind, leaving one man dead and three others injured,” Siem Reap Provincial Hall spokesperson Ly Vannak told Xinhua over phone, adding that one of the injured is critical.
All victims were men and local tourists, he added.
According to the spokesperson, the collapsed tree also damaged some statues on the balustrade of the Tonle Oum Gate.
The APSARA National Authority, which is the government agency responsible for managing, safeguarding and preserving the Angkor Archaeological Park, said experts had been sent to cut and remove this fallen tree.
The 401-square-kilometer Angkor Archaeological Park is the kingdom’s most popular tourist destination and attracted a total of 521,950 international tourists in the first half of 2024, a year-on-year increase of 35 percent, said a report from the state-owned Angkor Enterprise. ■