20,000 Cambodians Flee Border as Clashes with Thailand Escalate

More than 20,000 people have been evacuated from Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province amid escalating border clashes with Thai forces, including reported airstrikes and artillery attacks.

Speaking to Khmer Times on Thursday night, Preah Vihear Governor Kim Rithy confirmed the mass evacuation from six communes in Choam Ksan district. Around half of those displaced are now sheltering at the Wat Pothi 5,000 Pagoda Safety Centre.

“The evacuation began in the early morning after a major Thai attack, including aerial bombardment,” Rithy said. “We couldn’t move people immediately because artillery shells were falling near the roads. Many were forced to hide in bunkers.”

Fighting erupted on July 24 after Thai soldiers allegedly laid barbed wire at Ta Moan Thom Temple—an area both countries claim. Cambodian troops say they came under fire and responded, reclaiming control of key sites including Ta Krabey and Mom Bei.

Tensions spiked when three bombs reportedly dropped by Thai jets struck the Prasat Ta Moan Senchey pagoda in neighbouring Oddar Meanchey province, destroying the historic site. Buddhist monks and villagers fled on foot overnight to Siem Reap, many arriving visibly shaken and exhausted.

Authorities have now deployed emergency personnel and aid teams to assist the displaced. Food, shelter, and medical care are being distributed, though the situation remains volatile.

As border tensions deepen, fear is spreading across nearby communities. “This has turned into a full military confrontation,” a senior Cambodian military officer said. “But our forces now have control of the contested areas.”

With both nations claiming provocation and casualties feared on both sides, observers worry that the border dispute could spiral into a wider regional crisis.

-2025-07-25