The Stampede in Bonn Om Tuk killed 345 Cambodian

The Stampede took place on November 22th, on the diamonds island in Phnom Penh. At least 345 people have been killed and 410 people were wounded, the estimated number of deaths will increase inn the following.

On November 22th, it is the last day of the traditional Bonn Om Tuk. Large number of people rushed to the diamond island to participate in the celebration in Phnom Penh. Due to too many visitors, the bridge connecting the island of diamonds was shaking, which caused the crowd panic and lead the stampede.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen made the announcement in a speech broadcast on television in the morning of November 23rd. He expressed deep condolences to the unfortunate victims   and the sympathy for the families of the victims in the incident. He required the related department to spare on effort to rescue the injured, and ordered them to thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident. At the same time, he pointed out; the preliminary investigations showed that the incident has nothing to do with terrorism.

In order to remember the victims in the accident and warn other live Cambodian, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen decided the set November 25th as the national mourning day.

Khieu Kanharith, the spokesman of Cambodian pointed out, 345 people were killed and 410 were injured in the accident. He said most people died of suffocation and internal injuries. Also hundreds of injured were taken to the hospital for treatment in Phnom Penh, many of them of them died for serious injuries

The exact cause of a stampede is not clear, but Kanharith said the rumors about the instability of the bridge widely spread to the public before the celebration“After rumors spread, the crowd began to chaos. It is so crowded that people have no place to go, thus the tragedy of the Stampede taken place.” He predicted.

After the accident, the ways to prevent the Stampede has become the hot topic. Many peoples think of many effective ways to prevent this kind of thing happening again and protecting ourselves. Some one suggested we’d better avoid taking part in those kinds of large –scale activities, as the crowd may clause the tragedies. But others insist that the festive is traditional and the activities are attractive. How can we enjoy the traditional festival safely and happily? The related experts suggested the telescopes for the public to view the busy and grand scene. The place is small; it can’t hold so many people. You can also enjoy the festival at further safe place. After the Stampede, most local people buy one telescope as standby.