Cambodia Water Festival turns tragic with deadly stampede

Chistian Science Monitor ^ | November 22nd 2010 | Julie Masis,

[Cardhu]

A stampede in Cambodia late Monday night killed at least 339 people and injured as many more, with hospital officials projecting the death toll would continue to rise

The stampede happened during Cambodia's annual Water Festival, which drew a record 4 million people from around the country and region to watch three days of traditional boat races on the Bassac River in the capital.

Prime Minister Hun Sen called it the "biggest tragedy since the Pol Pot regime." While the comparison is extreme – the Khmer Rouge caused the deaths up to 2 million people in the late 1970s – this is the most deadly incident at a festival plagued by repeated problems.

A Singaporean boat capsized in 2008 and killed five rowers, and one Cambodian rower drowned in 2009. The latest incident raises questions whether the government has the capabilities to handle the ever larger festival crowds, which have increased by several million people in recent years and overwhelmed Phnom Penh's facilities.

[Cardhu]

“A lot of people jumped into the water because they knew how to swim and they were scared they would die otherwise," says Kim Houng, who was being treated at Calmette early Tuesday morning after passing out on the bridge.

[library user]

Where’s the aw geez not this shit again guy?

[dfwgator]

I can’t imagine a worse way to die, just terrible.

[Celtic Cross]

A stampede of what? Water Buffalo?

[library user]

[library user]

The people doing the stampeding are just practicing for a TSA interview.

[Rome2000]

Now you can go, where people are one
Now you can go, where they get things done

What you need, my son:.
What you need, my son:.

Is a holiday in Cambodia
Where people dress in black

A holiday in Cambodia
Where you’ll kiss ass or crack

Barak Obama

[al baby]

Sounds like whats going to happen on black Friday at wall mart

[Cardhu]

Cause not clear everything is rumor

So Cheata, a soft drink vendor, said the trouble began when 10 people fell unconscious in the crush of the crowd. She said that caused a panic, which then turned into a stampede. Many people were trampled.

Part of the crowd pushed onto a bridge, which also jammed up, with people falling under others and off the bridge. So Cheata said hundreds of hurt people were left lying on the ground afterwards.

Authorities had estimated that more than three million people could descend on the capital, Phnom Penh, for the three-day water festival. Koh Pich is in the middle of Phnom Penh.

[Deaf Smith]

"boat capsized in 2008 and killed five rowers, and one Cambodian rower drowned in 2009."

One would think that people involved in a water sport would know how to swim.

[Gamecock]

Oddly enough lot’s of Sailors can’t swim.

[RatsDawg]

Well John Kerry spent a Christmas in Cambodia...

[MAKOTHEDOG]

There is no doubt about that.