Kampong Speu Factory Fire: Metal and Battery Production Facility Still Smoldering, Water Use Restricted

A fire at a metal and battery production factory in Toul Sambour village, Damnak Reang commune, Samaki Mean Chey district, Kampong Speu province, remained unextinguished as of the morning of July 30th, with firefighting forces from the district police inspectorate continuing to monitor the situation. According to expert officials, water could not be used to extinguish the fire because the substances inside the factory react strongly with water, posing a risk to the forces during operations. Lieutenant Colonel Srei Sok Mol, head of the Firefighting and Rescue Office of the Kampong Speu Provincial Police, confirmed to Kampuchea Thmey on the morning of July 30th that the burning location was a facility for producing and processing metal materials and batteries. The burning substances caused loud explosions and reacted with water if forces attempted to use it for suppression. However, the fire did not spread to any residential homes, as the location is isolated from residents. The head of the office added that even though forces could not use water for suppression, fire engines remained stationed at the site for continuous monitoring. The report from the Kampong Speu Provincial Police stated that the factory building affected by the fire is named Xinshengsheng Metal Materials Industrial Park Co., Ltd., located in Toul Sambour village, Damnak Reang commune, Samaki Mean Chey district, Kampong Speu province. This site is a place for processing various metal materials, such as old batteries. The same report indicated that as of the morning of July 30th, 2026, the site was still emitting popping and crackling sounds, with the cause attributed to electrical short circuits from the batteries. The factory is owned by ZHANG JINGCHUAN, a Chinese national. The fire caused damage to a warehouse measuring 40 meters by 100 meters, constructed entirely of iron with zinc walls and roof. All finished products, two forklifts, two motorcycles, and a large quantity of other materials were also destroyed.