Phnom Penh - At least 347 people were killed and 394 others injured in a stampede on Monday night as millions of Cambodians celebrated the last day of the three-day annual Water Festival in the capital Phnom Penh.
"This is the biggest death toll since Pol Pot regime and even flood has never inflicted such a high death toll," said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. "I would like to express my condolences to all victims and their relatives."
The prime minister announced 25 November as the national mourning day to commemorate those killed in the stampede.
Meanwhile, he urged doctors to do their best to save the injured people.
Deputy Prime Minister Sok An said a national level committee was established to investigate the horrific stampede.
The committee is divided into three sub-committees: the forensic examination sub-committee, led by the Health Minister Mam Bun Heng; the corpse and injured people settlement sub- committee, led by the Minister of Social Affairs Ith Samheng, and the investigation sub-committee, led by Prum Sokha, secretary of state for the Interior Ministry.
The accident took place on a bridge that connects the city with the Diamond Island, which has become the center of celebrations. Some of the panicky people tried to flee over the bridge and crushed underfoot while a number of them fell over the bridge into the water.
