agencies
Monday, March 13, 2023 05:08 PM
A fire destroyed part of the provincial residence of Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni near a famous temple complex, officials said Monday, and no injuries were reported.
The fire broke out Sunday evening in the northwestern city of Siem Reap, destroying the roof of one of the smaller buildings in the complex, while the 69-year-old king is currently in Beijing for regular medical check-ups.
Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said no one was injured.
The Royal Palace Ministry said on Monday that the fire was caused by an electrical fault.
A video clip published by the government news agency “AKB” showed the intensity of the fire before emergency crews controlled it, clearly preventing serious damage to the main residential building.
The large villa becomes the official home of the king when he is in Siem Reap, and the main residence of King Sihamoni is a palace within a walled compound in the capital, Phnom Penh.
Siem Reap is famous for the centuries-old Angkor Wat temple complex, a historical site that is one of the main tourist attractions in the country.
