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Three Killed by Lightning at Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, Authorities Urge Caution Over Online Posts
Three Cambodian nationals were killed and several others injured after being struck by lightning while visiting the famed Angkor Wat temple complex late Friday, according to an official who confirmed the incident on Monday.
The group had sought shelter near the main temple of the UNESCO World Heritage site when lightning struck during an afternoon storm. Authorities have not released an official statement, but video footage circulating on social media showed ambulances at the scene and people being carried away by bystanders and temple staff. Additional images showed several individuals receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.
The victims included a 34-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman, according to the Cambodian Red Cross, which said it had delivered aid packages to the families of the deceased. The organization declined to provide further details by phone.
Speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the incident, an official confirmed the identities of the deceased and their nationality. A spokesperson for the Angkor Wat site and a regional health official did not respond to requests for comment.
The day after the lightning strike, Cambodia’s Minister of Tourism, Hout Hak, issued a statement urging the public to remove online content related to the tragedy. He warned that the dissemination of “negative information” could potentially harm Cambodia’s tourism sector, which relies heavily on visitors to Angkor Wat.
Angkor Wat, considered the crown jewel of Cambodia’s tourism industry, draws approximately 2.5 million visitors each year and is a national symbol, even appearing on the country’s flag. The sprawling 400-square-kilometre site contains centuries-old ruins from the Khmer Empire, dating from the 9th to the 15th centuries.
The Cambodian government has been investing heavily in developing the area to boost tourism, including the recent opening of a $1.1 billion Chinese-funded airport near Siem Reap. However, efforts to relocate some 10,000 families living within the protected zone of the temple complex have drawn criticism from human rights groups. Amnesty International and other organizations have raised concerns about whether the relocations were truly voluntary, despite government assurances.
UNESCO, which has previously voiced concerns over preservation and local rights, continues to monitor developments at the site.
The tragic lightning strike underscores the need for improved weather safety measures and emergency preparedness at major tourist attractions, particularly during Cambodia’s rainy season.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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