13 Workers Killed in Cambodia Road Crashes

At least 13 workers have been killed and more than 30 injured in two separate traffic accidents in Cambodia, prompting urgent calls for improved road safety.

The Ministry of Labour confirmed the tragedies occurred on Saturday morning in Kampong Chhnang and Svay Rieng provinces. In the first incident, a heavy cargo lorry collided with a vehicle transporting workers along National Road 5 in Kampong Tralach district. Eight workers died instantly, ten were left in critical condition, and several others sustained minor injuries.

Hours later, a second crash struck Svay Rieng city, where five workers were killed. Another five suffered serious injuries, while 16 more were treated for less severe wounds.

Labour Ministry spokesman Sun Mesa said officials were “deeply shocked and saddened” by the twin accidents. Emergency teams from the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), provincial labour departments and local authorities rushed to the scenes, arranging transport for the injured to nearby hospitals. Some victims were later transferred to provincial facilities and Phnom Penh’s Calmette Hospital for specialist care.

Mesa stressed that ministry leaders would oversee funeral arrangements and cover all related expenses for the deceased workers. Families will also receive compensation under NSSF regulations and labour protection laws.

The ministry used the occasion to urge drivers and road users to strictly follow traffic rules, warning that negligence continues to put lives at risk. Cambodia’s roads are notoriously dangerous, with worker transport vehicles often overcrowded and poorly maintained.

These latest crashes highlight the vulnerability of factory and construction workers who rely on shared transport to reach jobs in industrial zones. Campaigners have long argued that stricter enforcement of safety standards and better regulation of worker transport are essential to prevent further tragedies.

For now, the grief is raw. Thirteen families are mourning loved ones, while dozens more face long recoveries. The government’s promise of support may ease the immediate burden, but the accidents have reignited debate over Cambodia’s road safety record and the urgent need for reform.

-2026-05-24