13 garment workers dead, several injured in two road accidents in Cambodia
Phnom Penh, May 23 (IANS) At least 13 garment workers were killed, and more than 30 others were injured in two road crashes on Saturday morning in Cambodia, the Ministry of Labor’s spokesman Sun Mesa said.
One tragic collision occurred on National Road 5 in central Kampong Chhnang province’s Kampong Tralach district between a lorry and a garment worker-transporting truck.
“This accident left eight workers dead, and 10 others sustained severe injuries,” he told Xinhua news agency.
The other fatal crash took place on National Road 1 in southeastern Svay Rieng province’s Svay Rieng City between a speeding garment-worker transporting truck and a car.
“This accident left five workers dead, five seriously wounded, and 16 slightly injured,” he added.
The injured workers had been rushed to hospitals for medical treatment, and the National Social Security Fund would take responsibility for their medical costs.
Transporting workers in open trucks or buses to and from factories is not uncommon in the Southeast Asian country.
The country’s multi-billion-dollar garment, footwear and travel products industry comprises more than 1,800 factories and branches as of 2025, employing approximately 1.1 million workers, mostly women, according to the Ministry of Labor.
Earlier in April, the authorities announced that road traffic accidents killed at least 17 people in Cambodia during its traditional New Year holiday this year, down 34 per cent from 26 fatalities during last year’s holiday.
The Southeast Asian country celebrated its lunar New Year from April 14 to 16.
Ministry of Interior Spokesperson Touch Sokhak said besides the death toll, the accidents injured 45 others, down 4 per cent from 47 during last year’s celebrations.
He said a total of 27 road accidents happened across the country during this year’s holiday period, down 10 per cent from 30 cases during last year’s holiday period.
“Main causes of road crashes included speeding, failing to adhere to traffic rules, not respecting the right of way, reckless overtaking, careless turning, driving under the influence of alcohol, and drowsy driving, among others,” he said.
Road accidents are the leading cause of deaths and injuries in Cambodia, costing the country approximately 466 million US dollars a year, according to a report jointly conducted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Cambodia and the National Road Safety Committee.
According to the National Police, road accidents claimed 1,467 human lives and injured 3,213 others in 2025.
–IANS
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