Death toll from night club fire rises to 8 in Cambodia

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) – The death toll from a fire at an entertainment club in Cambodia rose to eight, authorities said.

The authorities said that eight people, including six Chinese nationals and one Vietnamese, died when the blaze engulfed the club in the capital Phnom Penh during renovation on Sunday, Phnom Penh-based Khmer Times reported.

Col. Prohm Yorn, head of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Office of Cambodia, said the firefighters arrived "promptly but couldn't save the eight victims who were trapped in a high part of the building."

The toxic smoke made the situation even more challenging, which was caused by an electrical fault, and the police are currently conducting a search operation in the building, he added.