Phnom Penh Fire Destroys 7 Wooden Homes, Suspected Electrical Short

A major fire broke out in Phnom Penh on September 3, 2026, around 2 PM, near the old landfill in Stueng Mean Chey 2 district. The blaze completely destroyed seven wooden houses and two motorcycles, along with a significant amount of household belongings. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The incident occurred in Prek Thol 1 village within the district. According to eyewitnesses, the fire started in one wooden house and rapidly spread to neighboring structures. The close proximity of the wooden houses and strong winds are believed to have accelerated the fire's spread. Residents attempted to evacuate but had insufficient time to retrieve most of their belongings. Nearby residents initiated initial firefighting efforts and alerted the authorities. Sixteen fire trucks, including units from the fire department, military police, and private companies such as Borey Peng Huot and Cambodia Beer, were dispatched to combat the flames. The fire was eventually brought under control. Authorities have preliminarily concluded that an electrical short circuit was the cause of the fire. This incident highlights the vulnerability of infrastructure and fire safety measures in densely populated areas of Phnom Penh, particularly in lower-income neighborhoods, where the close-knit housing structure can lead to rapid escalation of fires.