Phnom Penh: Garment Worker Found Dead in Rented Room After 4 Days

A 25-year-old male garment worker, Suen Visal, has been found dead in his rented room in Phnom Penh. Visal had been living alone as his wife had returned to their hometown for childbirth. On the morning of July 25, 2026, neighbors noticed Visal had not left his room or gone to work for over four days. A foul odor emanating from the room prompted them to contact the landlord. Upon inspection through the window, the landlord discovered Visal's deceased body, which showed signs of decomposition, indicating he had been dead for several days. Visal, originally from Prey Veng province, worked at a garment factory in Chom Chao III commune, Por Sen Chey district. According to his neighbors, he had previously lived in the rented room with his wife. After she left for her hometown for childbirth, he resided there alone. For the past four days, his room remained closed, and he was not seen leaving for work. An autopsy conducted by the police suggests that Visal died of a heart attack, with the estimated time of death being approximately four days prior. His body has been transferred to the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital (Russian Hospital) and awaits collection by his family for traditional funeral rites. This incident highlights the potential isolation faced by single migrant workers in urban areas and the challenges in accessing support during medical emergencies. In Cambodia, where many individuals migrate to cities for work and live apart from their families, such tragic events raise concerns about the need for robust social support systems.