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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Cambodia hotel fire kills 10 with 'at least 50' trapped as people seen jumping from windows

At least 10 people have died and 30 more injured as firefighters tackle a huge blaze at a hotel in Cambodia.

Around 50 people are reported to be trapped inside the Grand Diamond City hotel in Poipet as the fire continued to rage for several hours.

Shocking footage from the scene showed people plunging to the ground below as they jumped to escape the fire from the fifth floor.

A partial collapse of the building was reported in addition to extensive damage, while firefighters later claimed to have around 70% of the fire under control.

Some other parts of the structure were also seen to be 'leaning' perilously several hours into the fire, which is thought to have started around midnight (5pm GMT).

Around 50 people are thought to be still trapped inside the building (Twitter)

A total of 53 people were stated to have been rescued at 8.30am local time (1.30am GMT) as the fire continued.

A rescue crew was brought in across the border from Thailand to help tackle the blaze, with group leader Patcharin Thaenthon revealing that its ferocity prevented them from entering the site

He told CNN: "When we arrived, we could not get in because the fire had already taken over the buildings".

Mr Thaenthon added many of the victims appeared to have died from smoke inhalation.

Some people were forced to leap out of windows several storeys high as the fire raged on (Twitter)

Civilian volunteers also joined fire crews in the response and rescue effort, with the speed of the original emergency response not yet clear.

Unconfirmed reports on social media said the fire had been burning "uncontrolled" at the hotel and casino complex for around six hours, with one video clip showing a large part of the roof still ablaze.

Several parts of the hotel appeared charred and completely hollowed out.

Some parts of the building structure have collapsed while other appeared to be 'leaning' (Twitter)

Staff at the casino section of the resort meanwhile escaped by walking on the ledges of the building in single file, while a crowd of people gathered outside helped them climb down.

A statement from Poipet mayor Keat Hol said: "The fire continues to burn quickly and the extent of the damage has not yet been estimated."

Oum Rath, governor of Banteay Meanchey province, confirmed to local media that he was leading the firefighting operation and that efforts continued to bring the fire under control.

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